India has officially withdrawn its troops and equipment from Tajikistan's Ayni Airbase, ending a long strategic presence near Afghanistan. The decision came after the bilateral deal expired. Rising costs, loss of land

India has withdrawn its military personnel and equipment from the Ayni airbase in Tajikistan, ending its only full-fledged overseas base after nearly two decades. The withdrawal began in 2022 and concluded quietly, marking the end of India’s strategic presence in Central Asia.

Strategic Importance of Ayni Airbase

The Ayni base, situated around 20 km from Afghanistan’s Wakhan Corridor, held immense geopolitical value. It is close to Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) and China’s Xinjiang province, offering India surveillance and influence in a region dominated by Russia and China. It was also used during the Taliban takeover of Kabul in 2021 for evacuating Indian nationals.

India’s Investment and Role in Development

Originally built during the Soviet era, Ayni was in poor shape after the USSR’s disintegration. India invested about $80 million to modernize it — extending the runway to 3,200 meters, building hangars, fuel depots, and air traffic control facilities under a 2002 bilateral agreement. The Border Roads Organisation (BRO) executed most of the renovation work.

Reasons Behind India’s Withdrawal

The formal explanation cites the conclusion of the bilateral agreement with Tajikistan in 2022. However, analysts indicate that Russian and Chinese pressure influenced Tajikistan’s reluctance to renew India’s lease. The pullout was executed quietly and revealed publicly only in 2024.

Implications for India’s Strategic Interests

Ayni’s loss weakens India’s strategic footprint in Central Asia — a region vital for its energy security, counterterrorism cooperation, and monitoring Chinese-Pakistani activity near the Wakhan corridor. The base provided India with military reach and intelligence advantages over Pakistan and Afghanistan, now diminished after the withdrawal.

India’s Other Overseas Strategic Presence

Currently, India lacks any full-fledged foreign military base. However, it maintains limited strategic assets:

  • Agaléga Islands (Mauritius): India constructed an airstrip and jetty in 2024 to enhance Indian Ocean surveillance.
  • Bhutan: India runs a military training team for the Royal Bhutan Army.
  • Past temporary operations occurred in Bangladesh (1971 war) and Sri Lanka (IPKF mission).

In contrast, China maintains an official base in Djibouti and possibly one in Tajikistan, while the U.S. operates over a hundred global bases.

UPSC Relevance

GS Paper II (International Relations) & GS Paper III (Security):

  • India’s evolving strategic and defense diplomacy in Central Asia.
  • Impact of China’s expanding influence and India’s counter-strategy.
  • Regional security implications of losing a base near Afghanistan and PoK.
  • Importance of bilateral defense cooperation and overseas infrastructure.