The Indian National Congress voiced strong disapproval on Saturday regarding India’s recent withdrawal from the Ayni airbase in Tajikistan, describing it as “yet another setback” to the nation’s strategic diplomatic efforts and a significant dent in its regional influence.
Jairam Ramesh, the Congress general secretary for communications, highlighted on social media platform X that India had invested substantially in developing the Ayni airbase since the early 2000s. He noted that the base’s exceptional location led India to harbor ambitious plans for expanding its presence there.
According to Ramesh, India was initially asked to reduce its presence four years ago and has now completely pulled out. He stated that the effective closure of the base, which represented India’s only overseas military outpost, unequivocally constitutes a “setback for our strategic diplomacy.”
Ramesh also pointed out the cultural significance of the Ayni base’s location, situated approximately 10 kilometers from Dushanbe, near a museum housing the 1,500-year-old Buddha of Nirvana, a remarkable cultural artifact of the region.
Bilateral Agreement Concludes
Officials confirmed that India’s involvement with the Soviet-era Ayni base concluded following the expiration of a bilateral agreement with Tajikistan, which had facilitated the base’s development and joint operation. This pact reportedly lapsed around four years ago.
India’s efforts at the base included upgrading its runway, enhancing fuel depots, and modernizing air traffic control systems. At one point, India had deployed Su-30 MKI fighter jets and helicopters there. The facility played a crucial role in 2021, being utilized for the evacuation of Indian nationals from Afghanistan subsequent to the Taliban’s ascent to power.
The definitive closure of the Ayni airbase signifies the end of India’s singular overseas military presence, a facility that was once considered a pivotal component of its broader Central Asian strategy.