India’s exit from Tajikistan’s Ayni airbase a setback to strategic diplomacy, says Congress
India has fully withdrawn from the Ayni airbase in Tajikistan, its only overseas military facility, following the expiry of a bilateral agreement. The Congress party described this move as a significant setback to India’s strategic diplomacy and regional influence. Established in the early 2000s and expanded over time, the base played a key role in India’s Central Asian strategy, including evacuations from Afghanistan in 2021.
India officially ended its presence at the Ayni airbase in Tajikistan after the bilateral agreement for development and joint operation of the Soviet-era base expired approximately four years ago. The facility, located near Dushanbe, was India’s sole overseas military outpost and had been significantly upgraded with enhanced runway, fuel depots, and air traffic control capabilities. India had deployed fighter jets and helicopters at the base, which was strategically important due to its proximity to Afghanistan and Central Asia. The base was last actively used in 2021 to evacuate Indian nationals during the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan. Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh criticized the withdrawal as a major blow to India’s strategic diplomacy, noting that despite ambitious plans to expand presence at Ayni, India was asked to scale down and ultimately close the base. The closure marks a reduction of Indian influence in Central Asia amid increasing presence from Russia and China. The Ayni base’s location near cultural heritage, including the 1,500-year-old Buddha of Nirvana museum, is also noted. The withdrawal signifies diminished Indian strategic footprint in the region following the lapse of the lease and shifting geopolitical dynamics coordinating with Tajikistan’s decision not to renew India’s lease on the base.
