Farkhor Air Base part 2

History

In 2001, the 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.

Reports began circulating in April 2006 that the Indian air base at 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.

The exact origins of the offer of the 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 Atal Bihari Vajpayee and 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.

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