Why India Pulled Out of Tajikistan's Strategically Important Ayni Airbase

India has wrapped up its operation at a strategic air base in Tajikistan's Ayni following the lapse of a bilateral agreement. India was involved in the development of the Soviet-era airbase including strengthening its runway fuel depots and an air traffic control facility. India's military presence at the Ayni base was seen as part of its efforts to expand its strategic influence in central Asia.Though India pulled out its personnel and military equipment from the airbase near Tajik capital city Dushanbe in 2022, the reason for wrapping up its presence has emerged now.During a press briefing on Thursday, Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal, while responding to a media query, said that the arrangement was in place for several

years and was concluded in 2022. “We had a bilateral arrangement with Tajikistan for the rehabilitation and development of any aerodrome. This arrangement was in place for several years. After the conclusion of the agreement that we had with Tajikistan, we have handed over the facility to the Tajikistan side. This happened in 2022," MEA Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said.

According to a PTI report, India had initially decided to have a presence at the airbase to support the erstwhile Northern Alliance in Afghanistan.The Indian military had even temporarily deployed Su-30MKI fighter jets as well as military choppers at Ayni around 10 years ago.In 2021, India used Ayni airbase to rescue its nationals and officials from Afghanistan after the Taliban seized control of Afghanistan, the report states. However, the agreement between the Indian and Tajik governments for the development and joint operation of the airbase ended about four years ago, in 2022.