Congress MP and General Secretary Jairam Ramesh. File | Photo credit: The Hindu
The Congress on Saturday termed India’s withdrawal from the Ayni Air Base in Tajikistan as “another setback” for the country’s strategic diplomacy and termed it a blow to New Delhi’s regional influence.
In a contribution to X, Congress General Secretary (Communications) Jairam Ramesh said that India established the Ayni Air Base in the early 2000s and has substantially expanded its infrastructure over the years. “Given its extraordinary location, India had big plans to expand its presence in Ayni,” he said.
Mr. Ramesh noted that India was asked to reduce its presence four years ago and has now withdrawn completely. “It appears that India has finally closed the base which was its only overseas military installation. This is undoubtedly another obstacle to our strategic diplomacy,” he noted.
He also noted that the Ayni base, located about 10 km from Dushanbe, is near a museum that houses the 1,500-year-old Nirvana Buddha – “one of the most remarkable exhibits” of the region.
The agreement has lapsed
India’s presence at the Soviet-era Ayni base ended after a bilateral agreement with Tajikistan expired, officials said. The pact, signed for the development and joint operation of the base, expired about four years ago.
India modernized the base by strengthening its runway, fuel depots and air traffic control systems, and at one stage deployed Su-30 MKI fighter jets and helicopters there. The facility was last used in 2021 to evacuate Indian citizens from Afghanistan after the Taliban took over.
The closure marks the end of India’s only overseas military base, once considered a key hub of its Central Asian strategy.
(With PTI inputs)
Published – 01 Nov 2025 19:50 IST
