Tajikistan’s decision to reclaim the Ayni Air Base from India marks a turning point in Central Asia’s military landscape, reflecting the growing dominance of Russia and China as New Delhi loses its only overseas airpower foothold after two decades of operation.
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(DEFENCE SECURITY ASIA) — In a landmark geopolitical development, Tajikistan has reclaimed full control of the Ayni Air Base, bringing to an end India’s nearly two-decade operational presence at the strategically vital facility.
This decisive move, concluded in October 2025, marks a significant inflection point in Central Asian geopolitics, as Russia and China intensify their grip over regional military and political spheres of influence.India Air Force fighter aircraft
For New Delhi, the loss of Ayni Air Base is not merely a logistical setback—it represents a profound contraction of its strategic reach in a region crucial for monitoring Pakistan, Afghanistan, and the broader Eurasian security theatre.
As great-power competition deepens, Tajikistan’s action underscores the precarious balancing act faced by smaller states caught between rival nuclear-armed powers and the strategic ambitions of regional giants.
Located roughly 15 kilometers west of Dushanbe, the Ayni Air Base—also known as Farkhor-Ayni complex—has its roots in the Soviet era.
Constructed during the Cold War, Ayni was a linchpin in the Soviet Union’s military architecture, supporting operations across the Pamir Mountains and sustaining the USSR’s invasion of Afghanistan from 1979 to 1989.
After the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991, Tajikistan inherited the facility but lacked the economic means and stability to maintain it amid the devastating civil war that ravaged the nation through the 1990s.
India’s involvement began in the early 2000s, at the height of the global war on terror.
In 2002, New Delhi and Dushanbe signed a bilateral agreement to renovate and jointly operate the base, which became India’s first and only overseas military installation.
India reportedly invested between USD 70 million and USD 100 million (approximately RM 330 million to RM 470 million) to modernize the airbase, extending its runway to 3,200 meters, constructing new hangars, air traffic control towers, radar facilities, and perimeter fortifications.
The upgrades allowed the base to accommodate Su-30MKI multi-role fighters and Mi-17 helicopters, along with an estimated 200 Indian Air Force (IAF) and Army personnel overseeing maintenance and logistics.
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