Why was Ayni Air Base in Tajikistan important for India? IAF no longer operates the strategically significant airbase
The Ayni Air Base in Tajikistan, also known as Gissar Military Aerodrome, which played a major role in India's military logistics and evacuations, especially during the Afghanistan crisis, is no longer operated by India.
India had spent a considerable amount of money—reportedly about $70 million—to upgrade the infrastructure of the dilapidated Soviet era airbase to make it suitable for landing and take-off of most of the fixed-wing aircraft, and developed hangars.
A report in The Print in 2021 suggested that India may have spent $100 million on the development of GMA. India even had the first international deployment of its fighter jets—Su 30MKI—at the airbase.
Why was the air base important?
The airbase did offer a strategic advantage to India as Pakistan and China share borders with the country. The Print, in the 2021 article, quoted sources as saying that the Indian Air Force could target Peshawar from the airbase. It also offered a different route to Afghanistan, bypassing Pakistan.
The airbase was mostly used for logistics missions. In 2021, India used Ayni air base to rescue its nationals and officials from Afghanistan after the Taliban seized control of the country.
India had a few Su-30 MKIs stationed at the air base for some time. The IAF personnel had also operated a few helicopters for disaster relief and humanitarian assistance. These were gifted by India to Tajikistan.
Why is it no longer operated by India?
India has wrapped up its operation at the air base following the lapse of a bilateral agreement. According to news agency PTI, the agreement between the Indian and Tajik governments for the development and joint operation of the airbase ended about four years ago.
Though India pulled out its personnel and military equipment from the airbase in 2022, the reason for wrapping up its presence has emerged recently.
"Indian forces were present there as per a bilateral agreement. This finished in 2021-22 and since then Indian assets have not been there," Economic Times quoted sources as saying.
A news report also suggested that Russia and China exerted pressure over Tajikistan, asking the country not to extend the lease as they did not want non-regional military personnel at the base.
Defence