India Loses Strategic Foothold as Tajikistan Expels Indian Forces from Ayni Airbase

Dushanbe: In a major setback to New Delhi’s regional ambitions, Tajikistan has revoked India’s permission to use the Ayni Airbase near the capital Dushanbe — effectively ending India’s only overseas military presence in Central Asia. The base is now under the full control of Russian forces.

According to diplomatic sources, the bilateral agreement signed between India and Tajikistan in 2002 expired four years ago, and Tajik authorities clearly informed India that the lease would not be renewed. All Indian military personnel and equipment were withdrawn from the country in 2022.

Indian media reports claim that Tajikistan faced intense pressure from **Russia and China** to end India’s military presence, labeling New Delhi a “non-regional power.”

For India, the Ayni Airbase had long been considered a **strategic asset** — offering proximity to Afghanistan’s Wakhan Corridor and Pakistan’s northern regions. The Indian Air Force had previously stationed fighter jets and helicopters there to enhance operational reach and regional influence.

However, with Moscow and Beijing’s growing dominance in the region, analysts say India’s strategic plans have “collapsed completely.” Experts describe Tajikistan’s move as a **major geopolitical blow**, leaving India without any effective presence or influence in Central Asia.

Congress leader **Jairam Ramesh** sharply criticized Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government, calling the closure of the Ayni Airbase “a glaring failure of India’s foreign policy.” He said, “This is yet another blow to India’s strategic diplomacy, exposing the hollow nature of the Modi government’s foreign policy claims.”

Defense analysts argue that the episode demonstrates a key lesson — that maintaining foreign military bases requires the backing of major powers. Currently, India lacks full trust from either Washington, Moscow, or Beijing.

For Pakistan, observers note, the development represents a **diplomatic victory**, as India’s long-term strategic projects in the region appear to be unraveling one by one.