Ayni Air Base in Tajikistan

India withdrew from the Ayni air base in Tajikistan in 2022 after the lease agreement with Tajikistan was not renewed, reportedly due to pressure from Russia and China.

About Ayni Air Base in Tajikistan:

What it is?

• The Ayni air base, also known as the Gissar Military Aerodrome (GMA), is a strategically located airbase in Tajikistan that India helped develop and operate jointly with the Tajik government since 2002. It was India’s first overseas military facility, giving it a strategic presence in Central Asia.

Located in: The base lies just west of Dushanbe, Tajikistan’s capital, and around 20 km from Afghanistan’s Wakhan Corridor, which borders Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) and China.

History:

• Originally built during the Soviet era, the base fell into disuse after the USSR’s collapse.
• India redeveloped it in 2001-2002, with key roles played by NSA Ajit Doval, Air Chief Marshal B.S. Dhanoa, and the Border Roads Organisation (BRO).
• Funded by the Ministry of External Affairs, India spent about million extending the runway to 3,200 metres, building hangars, refuelling facilities, and maintenance units.
• The base was occasionally used by the Indian Air Force (IAF) for humanitarian and evacuation missions, including during the Afghanistan crisis in 2021.

Strategic Importance:

• Provided India a military foothold in Central Asia—a region of high strategic interest.
• Enabled surveillance and operational reach over Pakistan and Afghanistan.
• Located near the Wakhan Corridor, it offered India leverage in regional security and counter-terror operations.
• Strengthened India’s role as a security partner in Central Asia amid growing China-Pakistan proximity.

Current Status:

• The lease expired in 2021, and Tajikistan declined renewal under Russian and Chinese influence.
• India completed withdrawal in 2022, and by early 2023, Russian forces reportedly took over operations at the base.
• Though the base is no longer Indian-operated, India continues to maintain diplomatic and security engagement in Central Asia.