India Withdraws From Strategic Ayni Airbase Tajikistan

India’s exit from the Ayni airbase in Tajikistan in 2022 marked the end of its only full-fledged overseas military base. The move was revealed publicly only recently. The base had given India strategic reach into Central Asia and leverage in regional geopolitics. Its location near Afghanistan’s Wakhan Corridor placed India close to Pakistan-occupied Kashmir and China’s Xinjiang province. IASPOINT outlines the significance of Ayni, reasons for withdrawal, and India’s overseas military presence.

The Ayni Airbase – Location and Importance

Ayni airbase lies about 20 km from Afghanistan’s Wakhan Corridor. The corridor borders China’s Xinjiang, Tajikistan, and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. This made Ayni strategically valuable for India’s influence in Central Asia. Originally a Soviet-era facility, it fell into disrepair after the USSR’s collapse. India invested around $80 million over two decades to upgrade its runway, hangars, fuel depots, and air traffic control. The base supported Indian military operations and evacuations, including during the Taliban takeover of Kabul in 2021.

India’s Military Presence at Ayni

At its peak, the base hosted about 200 Indian military personnel, mainly from the Army and Indian Air Force. India stationed Sukhoi 30 MKI jets and heavy transport aircraft there. The Border Roads Organisation played a key role in renovating the base under a 2002 bilateral agreement with Tajikistan. Ayni was India’s sole overseas military base, giving it strategic depth beyond South Asia.

Reasons Behind India’s Withdrawal

India’s withdrawal began quietly in 2022 after the bilateral agreement expired. Officially, India handed over the airbase to Tajikistan as per the agreement’s terms. However, it is understood that pressure from Russia and China influenced Tajikistan’s reluctance to renew India’s lease. The withdrawal was conducted discreetly and only became public knowledge months later. The shift reflects changing geopolitical dynamics in Central Asia.

Impact on India’s Strategic Reach

Losing Ayni reduces India’s direct military footprint in Central Asia. The base’s proximity to the Wakhan Corridor had offered India a unique vantage point near China and Pakistan. Overseas bases provide strategic access, intelligence advantages, and influence in neighbouring regions. The withdrawal may limit India’s ability to project power or gather intelligence in this sensitive area. It also signals the challenges India faces competing with Russia and China in the region.

India’s Other Overseas Military Engagements

India currently has no other fully operational overseas military bases. In 2024, India and Mauritius inaugurated a joint airstrip and jetty on the Agaléga Islands in the Indian Ocean. This enhances India’s naval reach near East Africa. India also maintains a military training mission in Bhutan. Temporary military presences have occurred in Bangladesh (1971) and Sri Lanka (IPKF mission). By contrast, China has a base in Djibouti and possibly in Tajikistan, while the US operates over 100 bases worldwide.

Geopolitical Context

Central Asia remains a contested space among Russia, China, and India. Russia and China’s influence in Tajikistan appears to have grown, constraining India’s role. The region’s proximity to Afghanistan and Pakistan makes it strategically sensitive. Control or access to bases here can impact regional security, trade routes, and intelligence gathering. India’s withdrawal reflects realpolitik and the complex balance of power in Eurasia.

Questions for UPSC:

1. Taking example of India’s Ayni airbase, discuss the strategic importance of overseas military bases in enhancing a country’s regional influence.
2. Examine the role of Central Asia in India’s foreign policy and security strategy in the context of major powers like Russia and China.
3. Analyse the impact of great power competition on the sovereignty and foreign relations of smaller states like Tajikistan, with suitable examples.
4. Discuss in the light of India’s military engagements in neighbouring countries and overseas, the challenges and opportunities of maintaining military presence abroad.

Answer Hints:

1. Taking example of India’s Ayni airbase, discuss the strategic importance of overseas military bases in enhancing a country’s regional influence.

1. Overseas bases provide forward military presence and rapid deployment capabilities beyond national borders.
2. They offer strategic access to key regions for intelligence gathering and surveillance.
3. Ayni’s location near Wakhan Corridor gave India leverage over Pakistan and proximity to China’s Xinjiang.
4. Such bases help project power and signal geopolitical influence in contested or strategic areas.
5. They facilitate logistical support, evacuation operations, and regional partnerships.
6. However, maintaining bases requires diplomatic agreements and can be challenged by local or rival powers.

2. Examine the role of Central Asia in India’s foreign policy and security strategy in the context of major powers like Russia and China.

1. Central Asia is a strategic buffer zone linking South Asia, Russia, China, and the Middle East.
2. India seeks influence in Central Asia to counterbalance Pakistan and gain foothold near Afghanistan.
3. Russia and China dominate the region through economic, military, and political ties, limiting India’s influence.
4. India’s presence at Ayni was a strategic attempt to engage Central Asia militarily and diplomatically.
5. Central Asia’s proximity to China’s Xinjiang and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir makes it geopolitically sensitive.
6. India’s withdrawal reflects challenges in competing with entrenched Russia-China interests and regional realpolitik.

3. Analyse the impact of great power competition on the sovereignty and foreign relations of smaller states like Tajikistan, with suitable examples.

1. Smaller states often face pressure from competing great powers to align politically and militarily.
2. Tajikistan’s reluctance to renew India’s lease on Ayni was influenced by Russian and Chinese pressure.
3. Great power rivalry can limit smaller states’ foreign policy autonomy and force difficult diplomatic choices.
4. Examples – Tajikistan balancing ties with Russia, China, and India; Djibouti hosting Chinese and US bases.
5. Such competition can bring investment and security guarantees but also risks dependency or loss of neutrality.
6. Smaller states use multi-vector diplomacy to maximize benefits while managing great power demands.

4. Discuss in the light of India’s military engagements in neighbouring countries and overseas, the challenges and opportunities of maintaining military presence abroad.

1. Challenges include diplomatic sensitivities, lease renewals, and pressure from rival powers (e.g., Ayni base lease lapse).
2. Logistical costs and sustaining personnel and equipment in foreign environments require resources.
3. Opportunities include enhanced strategic reach, intelligence gathering, and regional influence (e.g., Agaléga Islands).
4. Military presence abroad aids in evacuation, training missions (Bhutan), and regional security collaborations.
5. Temporary deployments (Bangladesh 1971, Sri Lanka IPKF) show operational flexibility but also political risks.
6. Maintaining overseas presence requires balancing geopolitical interests with host nation relations and global diplomacy.