India has withdrawn its military personnel and assets from the Ayni Airbase in Tajikistan, ending its only fully operational overseas military base. The withdrawal process quietly began in 2022, following the end of the bilateral agreement with Tajikistan under which India operated the facility. The decision has strategic implications for India’s influence in Central Asia.
About Ayni Airbase
- Located near Ayni village in Tajikistan, around 20 km from Afghanistan’s Wakhan Corridor, extremely close to PoK and China’s Xinjiang province.
- Originally a Soviet-era base, deteriorated post-USSR breakup.
- India invested ~USD 80 million to renovate it under a 2002 bilateral agreement.
- Upgraded facilities include:
- 3,200-metre runway (suitable for combat jets and heavy airlift aircraft)
- Hangars & fuel depots
- ATC facilities
- Infrastructure built primarily by Border Roads Organisation (BRO).
- At its peak, around 200 Indian military personnel (Army + IAF) and Sukhoi-30MKI jets were stationed.
- Played major roles:
- Logistic support for Northern Alliance in fighting Taliban pre-2001
- Evacuation operations after the 2021 Taliban takeover of Kabul
Strategic Importance of Ayni
Ayni gave India:
- Direct access & monitoring capability near Pakistan’s and China’s borders.
- Strategic depth in Central Asia, a region contested by Russia, China, and the US.
- Leverage for intelligence, reconnaissance, and logistical operations.
- Presence close to the Wakhan Corridor, a narrow strip connecting Afghanistan to China- of high geopolitical interest in China–Pakistan economic activities.
Reasons for Withdrawal
Official Reason
- The bilateral agreement for the development & use of the facility concluded and was handed over to Tajikistan in 2022.
Underlying Strategic Factors
- Reluctance of Tajikistan to renew lease due to pressure from:
- Russia, which has strong military presence & influence in Tajikistan
- China, building long-term economic and security influence in Central Asia
- China reportedly planning military facilities in Tajikistan (unacknowledged), strengthening Beijing’s influence.
Why Done Quietly
- Sensitive geopolitical issues involving Russia–China–Pakistan axis
- Possible domestic & international diplomatic repercussions
Impact on India
What India Loses?
- Loss of its first and only full-fledged overseas operational airbase
- Reduced capability to monitor Chinese and Pakistani activities near the Wakhan region
- Reduced strategic footprint in Central Asia
- Impact on long-term counterbalance to China’s BRI expansion
- Lower leverage in Afghanistan-related security dynamics
Wider Implication
- Represents a temporary setback to India’s endeavour to build military presence beyond its borders
- Highlights limited Indian ability to counter both China’s assertive expansion and Russia’s regional control simultaneously
Does India Have Other Overseas Bases?
| Country / Territory | Status | Purpose & Capability |
| Mauritius – Agaléga Islands | Operational airstrip & jetty (inaugurated 2024) | Extends reach in Western Indian Ocean, supports P8I maritime aircraft |
| Bhutan | Military training team present | Training Royal Bhutan Army & bodyguards |
| Bangladesh & Sri Lanka | Temporary operational presence (historic) | 1971 war & IPKF mission respectively |
| No other active overseas base currently | — | Ayni was the only one |
Comparative Perspective
| Country | Overseas Military Bases |
| China | Djibouti (official); suspected Tajikistan |
| USA | 100+ global bases |
| Russia | Multiple across Central Asia & Eastern Europe |
| India | Only Agaléga support facility (not a traditional base yet) |
Wakhan Corridor
- Narrow strip in Badakhshan province of Afghanistan
- Borders China (Xinjiang) to east, Tajikistan to north, and PoK (GB region) to south
- Vital for China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and security outreach
Importance of Central Asia for India
- Energy security (oil, gas, uranium)
- Trade & connectivity (linked with International North–South Transport Corridor)
- Countering China’s influence
- Security cooperation (terrorism, radicalisation control post-Taliban rise)
Tajikistan
| Feature | Detail |
| Capital | Dushanbe |
| Currency | Somoni |
| Official Language | Tajik (Persian origin) |
| Borders | Afghanistan, China, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan |
| Dominant Terrain | Pamir & Alay mountain ranges |
| Strategic location | Near crossroads of South Asia, Central Asia & China |