New Delhi . India has completely eliminated its military presence from the strategically important Ayni Airbase located in Tajikistan. This step has been taken after the expiry of the bilateral agreement between the two countries. People familiar with the matter gave this information on Wednesday. This is the same airbase where India first deployed its troops and air force personnel nearly two decades ago, supporting the anti-Taliban Northern Alliance in Afghanistan.

According to sources, the bilateral agreement between India and Tajikistan for the development and joint operation of this airbase had expired about four years ago, and was not extended. After this, the withdrawal of Indian personnel gradually started, which was completed only by 2022. This airbase is located about 10 kilometers west of the capital Dushanbe.

The airbase was developed by spending 100 million dollars

This airbase, built in the former Soviet era, was developed and modernized by India in the 2000s. According to sources, India had spent about 100 million dollars (about Rs 830 crore) on it. These improvements included strengthening and lengthening the runways to allow landing of combat jets and heavy transport aircraft. In addition, facilities such as fuel depots, hangars, air traffic control towers and hardened shelters were also developed.

Indian Air Force and Army personnel were deployed

For some time after 2014, India also deployed its Su-30MKI fighter planes at Aoni airbase. At that time, about 200 Indian military personnel were stationed here, which included officers from both the Air Force and the Army.

Northern Alliance got help

The basic objective of India’s presence was to expedite the supply of logistics and equipment to the anti-Taliban Northern Alliance, as well as conduct air support and surveillance missions. Along with this, India had also established a military hospital in Farkhor, Tajikistan, where injured Northern Alliance fighters were treated. It was in this hospital that two days before the 9/11 attacks, key Northern Alliance leader Ahmed Shah Masood was brought to the hospital after being injured in a fatal attack, where he died.

This presence was important from strategic point of view

Even after the fall of the Taliban regime in 2001 and the formation of a new government in Kabul, India maintained its presence at the Aini airbase. The move was part of India’s strategy to increase its influence in Central Asia and maintain strategic pressure on Pakistan, as the airbase is located just 20 kilometers from Afghanistan’s Wakhan Corridor. This is the same narrow strip which is adjacent to Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK).

Help was provided in the evacuation of civilians from Afghanistan

When the Taliban gained control of Afghanistan in 2021, India used the Ayni airbase to safely evacuate its citizens and diplomats. During that time, along with the Indian Army and Air Force, civilian aircraft were also used.

Now Indian presence has completely ended

Sources said all of India’s military and technical assets, as well as the personnel deployed there, were to be withdrawn by 2022. After the termination of the agreement, the operation of Ayni Air Base is now completely under the control of the Government of Tajikistan. According to experts, this step is the beginning of a new chapter in India’s Central Asia policy, where under the new circumstances India will have to strengthen its presence through diplomatic and economic means.