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| {{Distinguish|Farkhor Air Base}}
| | #REDIRECT [[Ayni Air Force Base]] |
| {{Distinguish|Ayni Airport}} | | |
| {{Infobox military installation | | {{Redirect category shell| |
| |name = Ayni Air Force Base
| | {{R from alternative name}} |
| |location = Rudaki, [[Tajikistan]]
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| |map_type = Tajikistan
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| |coordinates = {{coord|38.51421|68.675445|type:landmark|display=inline}}
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| |map_size = 220
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| |type = Air force base
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| |materials = [[Asphalt]]
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| |controlledby = [[Tajik Air Force]]<br/>[[Indian Air Force]]
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| |occupants = [[Tajik Air Force]]<br/>[[Indian Air Force]]
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| }} | | }} |
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| '''Ayni Air Force Base''', also known as '''Gissar Air Base''', is a military air base in [[Tajikistan]], just 10 km west of the capital [[Dushanbe]].<ref>[https://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=Ayni+air+force+base+Tajikistan&sll=38.512109,68.67249&sspn=0.020014,0.045362&ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=Ayni+AFB,+Region+of+Republican+Subordination,+Tajikistan&ll=38.512512,68.67249&spn=0.020014,0.045362&z=15 Ayni Air Force Base on Google Maps]. Retrieved on 8 May 2009</ref> The base is jointly operated by the [[Indian Air Force]] and the [[Tajik Air Force]]. It is also India's first overseas air base. Since 2014 India has deployed [[Sukhoi Su-30MKI|Su-30MKI]] in limited numbers at this base. The base was extensively used by Indian Air Force as a standby base for its aircraft to evacuate Indian Nationals from [[Kabul International Airport|Kabul Airport]] amidst the [[Fall of Kabul (2021)|Afghan Crisis]].<ref>{{Cite web|last=Philip|first=Snehesh Alex|date=2021-08-23|title=Gissar Military Aerodrome -- India’s first overseas base that came to the rescue in Afghan crisis|url=https://theprint.in/defence/gissar-military-aerodrome-indias-first-overseas-base-that-came-to-the-rescue-in-afghan-crisis/720356/|access-date=2021-08-25|website=ThePrint|language=en-US}}</ref>
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| ==History==
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| Reports began circulating in early 2000s that India would establish air bases at Ayni and Farkhor in Tajikistan. Both Indian and Tajik officials issued immediate denials, but they did admit that India had been renovating the bases since 2002.
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| In January 2011, Tajik Foreign Minister, Hamrohan Zarifi, officially launched negotiations with [[Russia]] to discuss possible deployment of Russian military at Ayni. Zarifi also ruled out deployment of Indian or [[United States|American]] forces at Ayni.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://centralasianewswire.com/Security/Tajiks-likely-to-grant-Russia-access-to-Ayni-air-base-says-analyst/viewstory.aspx?id=3252 |title=Tajiks likely to grant Russia access to Ayni air base, says analyst |access-date=2011-07-10 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120707044711/http://centralasianewswire.com/Security/Tajiks-likely-to-grant-Russia-access-to-Ayni-air-base-says-analyst/viewstory.aspx?id=3252 |archive-date=2012-07-07 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
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| During the [[Cold War]] era, Ayni served as a major military base of the [[Soviet Union]]. However, following [[Soviet troop withdrawal from Afghanistan|Soviet withdrawal from Afghanistan]], the base's infrastructure deteriorated significantly. Between 2002 and 2010, [[India]] spent nearly US$70 million to renovate the air base — the runway was extended to 3,200 meters and state-of-the-art navigational and air defense equipment were installed.<ref name=RF>[http://www.rferl.org/content/Tajik_Military_Air_Base_Completed_With_Indian_Help/2152731.html Tajik Military Air Base Completed With Indian Help]</ref><ref name=AT1>[https://web.archive.org/web/20101204121139/http://atimes.com/atimes/South_Asia/LL01Df02.html India air base grounded in Tajikistan]</ref> It was speculated by some media outlets that India was keen on establishing a military base in Ayni so as to gain a strategic foothold in [[Central Asia]].<ref name=AT1/>
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| India has now renewed its interest in the [https://eurasiantimes.com/india-ayni-airbase-in-tajikistan-russian/ Ayni airbase]. The scope and scale of India’s military detachment in Ayni is yet a subject of discussion between India, Russia and Tajikistan. Russia patrols the Tajik skies and has a motorised rifle division deployed in Ayni.
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| Since being admitted to the [[Shanghai Cooperation Organisation]] (SCO) this year and participating in war games with its members, Delhi is enthusiastic to revive the relationship with Tajikistan, now that India-Russian ties are its zenith due to massive defence deals between two nations. Tajikistan is also a member of the [[Collective Security Treaty Organisation]] (CSTO), along with [[Russia]], [[Armenia]], [[Kazakhstan]] and [[Kyrgyzstan]]. It may require a green signal from the CSTO to allow Indian military operations at Ayni.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://eurasiantimes.com/india-ayni-airbase-in-tajikistan-russian/|title = Will Ayni Airbase in Tajikistan Become India's 1st Overseas Military Base?|date = 11 October 2018}}</ref>
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| An Indian online newspaper [[ThePrint|The Print]] reported on 23 August 2021 that around 2001-2002 [[Government of India|Indian Government]] came up with the Idea to set up an airbase in Tajikistan as Tajikistan is just about 20 km from [[Azad Kashmir|Pakistan Administered Kashmir]] across the corridor, having the ability to operate from Tajikistan, IAF fighters could target [[Peshawar]] from Tajikistan, which would put additional pressure on the resources of [[Pakistan]]. The IAF appointed then Group Captain Naseem Akhtar (Retd) to begin the work on the airbase. Akhtar, who retired as Air Commodore, was followed by another officer. The Indian government also involved the [[Border Roads Organisation]] (BRO) team which was led by a Brigadier. At that point in time, there were around 200 Indians working on the project and the airstrip at Gissar was extended to 3,200 metres — long enough for most fixed-wing aircraft to land and take-off. Besides this, the Indian team also developed hangars, overhauling and the refuelling capacity of aircraft. It is estimated that India spent close to $US100 million developing the base. [[Air chief marshal (India)|Air Chief Marshal]] [[Birender Singh Dhanoa]] was appointed the first Base Commander of the base around the end of 2005 when he was a [[Group captain (India)|Group Captain]]. However, it was only under the [[Narendra Modi]] Indian Government that India deployed [[Sukhoi Su-30MKI|Su-30MKI]] fighter jets at the base in limited numbers.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Philip|first=Snehesh Alex|date=2021-08-23|title=Gissar Military Aerodrome -- India’s first overseas base that came to the rescue in Afghan crisis|url=https://theprint.in/defence/gissar-military-aerodrome-indias-first-overseas-base-that-came-to-the-rescue-in-afghan-crisis/720356/|access-date=2021-08-25|website=ThePrint|language=en-US}}</ref>
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| ==See also==
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| *[[Geostrategy in Central Asia]]
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| *[[Farkhor Air Base]].
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| ==References==
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| {{reflist}}
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| {{Airports in Tajikistan}}
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| {{coord|38.51421|68.675445|type:_region:|display=title}}
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| {{authority control}}
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| [[Category:Tajik Air Force]]
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| [[Category:Aviation in Tajikistan]]
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| [[Category:Airports in Tajikistan]]
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| [[Category:Indian Overseas Military bases]]
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| [[Category:Indian Air Force bases]]
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| [[Category:Districts of Republican Subordination]]
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| [[Category:Military installations in Tajikistan]]
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| [[Category:Soviet Air Force bases]]
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