Farkhor Air Base
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{{Infobox Airport
| name = Farkhor Air Base (Farkhor-Ayni Air Base)
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| ICAO = UT46
| type = Military
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| location = Parkhar
| elevation-f = 1,450
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| coordinates = {{Coord|38|28|15|N|069|22|56|E|type:airport|display=inline,title}}
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| r1-length-f = 2,585
| r1-length-m = 788
| r1-surface = [[Asphalt]]
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'''Farkhor Air Base''' ([[Hindi]]: फ़र्ख़ार एयर बैस) is an [[Indian Air Force#IAF Bases|Indian Airbase]] located in [[Farkhor district|Farkhor]]/[[Ayni]] in [[Tajikistan]],130 kilometres (80 miles) south east of the capital [[Dushanbe]]. It is the only [[Indian Armed Forces|Indian military base]] situated in a foreign country and just 2 km from the [[Tajikistan|Tajik]]-[[Afghanistan|Afghan]] border. The agreement between [[India]] and Tajikistan for the base was signed in 2003 and ratified in late 2004. It stipulates the presence of the [[Indian Air Force]] and [[Indian Army]] to be permanently stationed there, and ward off any external threat to the country's security. Work on the base commenced immediately and the air base is now in full operational readiness since early 2007. Details of the composition of the base are not known but it is speculated that Indian military [[matériel]] acquired from [[Central Asia]] might be stationed there. Almost seventy percent of India's arms are procured from [[Russia]] and former [[Republics of the Soviet Union|Soviet republics]].
==History==
In 2001, the [[Military of India|Indian military]] opened a 25-bed hospital at the base at Farkhor to treat [[Afghan Northern Alliance]] members injured in fighting with the [[Taliban]], including military leader [[Ahmed Shah Massoud]], who was rushed there after the suicide attack against him. After the [[September 11 attacks]], Tajikistan offered its bases, including Farkhor, to the [[United States]] in its war against terror. The Indian military hospital unit was relocated inside Afghanistan with the progress of Northern Alliance forces. The U.S. had initially shown interest in the base, but that did not proceed any further. (See also [[Karshi-Khanabad]] and [[Ganci Air Base|Ganci]] air bases.)
Reports began circulating in April 2006 that the Indian air base at [[Farkhor district|Farkhor]]/[[Ayni]] in Tajikistan was operational. Both Indian and Tajik officials issued immediate denials, but they did admit that India had been renovating the base since 2002. Moreover, Russian sources confirmed that indeed such a base existed and that it was co-located with the Russian air base at [[Ayni]], which is part of Russia’s own determined drive to rebuild its military presence and capabilities in Central Asia. When fully operational, the Indian base is expected to host 12 to 14 MiG-29 fighter bombers, according to various reports. <ref>[http://www.atimes.com/atimes/South_Asia/HH12Df01.html Asia Times Online :: South Asia news - India's foray into Central Asia<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>
The exact origins of the offer of the [[Farkhor district|Farkhor]]/[[Ayni]] base to India are not clearly known, but the Indian Ministry of External Affairs passed on the offer to the Ministry of Defence, headed by then Defence Minister [[George Fernandes]] who seized on the opportunity. The agreement was signed by former Indian [[Prime Minister of India|Prime Minister]] [[Atal Bihari Vajpayee]] and [[List of Presidents of Tajikistan|Tajikistan President]] [[Emomali Rahmonov]] during Vajpayee's visit to that country in 2002. Tajikistan and India share close relations, with the Tajik President visiting India many times. Common issues between the two nations include peace, security and stability to the region around Afghanistan. India has also invested in [[hydroelectric power]] and is a major donor to Tajikistan.
==Strategic location and geopolitical implications==
:''See also: [[Geostrategy in Central Asia]]''
The [[Farkhor district|Farkhor]]/[[Ayni]] base gives the Indian military the required depth and range in seeking a larger role in [[South Asia]] and is a tangible manifestation of India’s move to project its power in Central Asia, a policy goal formally enunciated in 2003–2004.{{Fact|date=July 2008}}
The potential implications of this base go far beyond the Indo-Pakistani rivalry on the subcontinent. [[President of Pakistan|Pakistan President]] [[Pervez Musharraf]], has raised his concern to the Tajik government on the fact that Indian planes can reach Pakistan within minutes. <ref>[http://news.indiamart.com/news-analysis/vajpayee-s-tajikista-441.html Vajpayee’s Tajikistan visit : Security aspect]</ref>
The [[Farkhor district|Farkhor]]/[[Ayni]] base represents a major element in India’s efforts to promote stability in Afghanistan, and to enhance New Delhi’s ability to get oil both in South Asia and Central Asia. India obviously will not accept being confined to an exclusively South Asian geo-strategic role any longer.
India’s determination to project power throughout Central Asia is not just for military purposes. Access to Central Asian energy is vitally important for India. New Delhi seeks access to Kazakh oil and gas and involvement in "mega-projects," such as an Iran-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India pipeline and another linking Turkmenistan, Afghanistan, Pakistan, and India. Either or both of these pipelines would substantially improve India’s reliable access to energy supplies, while encouraging better Indo-Pakistani relations.
India wants to develop a new power grid that integrates Central Asian states with those of the subcontinent, an idea that has received strong backing from the United States of late. While India would use a new grid to enhance its overall economic profile in Central Asia, Washington sees the project as a way to counter the growing economic and political influence of China in Central Asia.
The importance of India’s [[Farkhor district|Farkhor]]/[[Ayni]] base does not end here. Its appearance suggests that India’s long-standing strategic ties with Russia remain on a sound footing. In the strategic sphere, India and Russia share a common enemy in [[Islamic terrorism]] , and India needs Russian energy.
Although both India and Pakistan are observers in the [[Shanghai Cooperation Organization]], China is undoubtedly wary of the Indian presence at [[Farkhor district|Farkhor]]/[[Ayni]]. Moreover, Indian policy intellectuals continue to view China as a strategic rival.
==See also==
* [[List of Indian Air Force Bases]]
== References ==
{{reflist}}
== External links ==
*[http://www.indianexpress.com/sunday/story/24207.html Tajik air base is ready, gives India its first footprint in strategic Central Asia];Gupta, Shishir; ''[[Indian Express]]''; Sunday, [[February 25]], [[2007]]; ''Accessed on 2007-03-06''
*[http://www.tribuneindia.com/2003/20031115/main1.htm India to base planes in Tajikistan]; Luthra, Gulshan; ''[[The Tribune]]'', [[Chandigarh]]; Saturday, [[November 15]], [[2003]]; ''Accessed on [[2005-10-05]]''.
*[http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Central_Asia/ED09Ag01.html Scramble for Central Asian bases]; Blank, Stephen; ''Asia Times Online''; [[2003-04-09]]; ''Accessed on 2005-10-05''.
*[http://www.ipcs.org/Oct_04_militaryAirforc.pdf IAF's base in Tajikistan will be ready by '04] (pdf); Ved, Mahendra; ''[[Times of India]]''; [[2004-10-01]]; ''Accessed on 2005-10-05''
*[http://www.tol.cz/look/TOL/article.tpl?IdLanguage=1&IdPublication=4&NrIssue=174&NrSection=2&NrArticle=17375 India : The New Central Asian Player]
*[http://www.tajikistanweb.com/120208_indiataj.html India and Ayni: Idealism Versus Realism]; Mansi Mehrotra; ''[[Tajikistanweb]]''; [[February 12]], [[2008]]
[[Category:Military of India]]
[[Category:Buildings and structures in Tajikistan]]
[[Category:Airports in Tajikistan]]
[[Category:Indian Air Force bases]]
[[Category:Overseas military bases]]