Unfulfilled Indian pledges = loss of Ayni airbase

The story of Ayni airbase has been one of missed opportunities for the Indian establishment. Rahul Bedi brings out the reasons behind Tajikistan almost spurning Indian offer to establish its first military outpost in Central Asia.

Mounting uncertainty over India’s continued presence in its sole overseas military facility in Tajikistan was largely due to New Delhi’s tardiness in fulfilling its 2002 commitment to pay various state-run Tajik institutions $500,000 and executing infrastructure development projects in that country, according to well informed sources.

Official sources here said the previous National Democratic Alliance (NDA) administration had, besides agreeing to finance and execute the restoration of the disused Ayni air base, 15 km from capital Dushanbe, also committed India to a $500,000 grant-in-aid to several Tajik government institutions which it had not remitted.

Consequently, the non-payment alongside other unfulfilled pledges made by former defence minister George Fernandes to upgrade a highway near Dushanbe and construct a hydropower plant infuriated the Tajik authorities, prompting them to notify India last year to withdraw its 150-200 military personnel stationed at Ayni.

But military sources said the Tajik Defence Minister, Colonel General Khairullaev Sherlai’s Delhi visit last month – during which he met his Indian counterpart A.K. Antony – has temporarily stalled India’s ejection from the crucially strategic Central Asian Region (CAR) after Delhi hastily released an instalment of $100,000.

The balance $400,000, these sources told IANS, would be handed over “shortly”.

The government had also assured Sherlai that it was “fast forwarding” the promised highway and hydropower projects in Tajikistan. [TN]

Incidentally, the reports of Indian involvement at Ayni, varying from MIG fighter aircrafts to helicopters to a pilot training school, have been denied both by India and Tajikistan. It is not clear that these denials were part of mere posturing to act as a bargaining chip or reflective of the international pressure on Tajikistan. All the major players in the region – Russia, US, China and of course Pakistan – are unhappy and opposing India’s strategic ambitions in the region.

The reasons are ostensibly not limited to the unkept promises of the Indian government. Notwithstanding the real reasons, India cannot be seen as discrepant to its commitments while it aspires for and moves into the league of more significant players in today’s geopolitics. If paying a few hundred thousand dollars now can salvage the situation for India, the establishment should consider itself very lucky to have gotten out of trouble unscathed. More importantly, they ought to have learned their lessons for the future.

05 Feb 2008 | Concerning Airforce, Army, Defence deals, International relations, Military, National security, Russia

One Response

  1. photonman February 5th, 2008 at 5:38 am

    As you rightly point out, it is hard to believe that USD 400,000, and building a few highways and buildings are keeping the Tajiks from offering their base to India. After all, the base is worth millions in annual lease. I think there’s more than meets the eye – notwithstanding the ’sources’ quoted by IANS.

    Of course no strongman wants another in his neighbourhood. May be our lobbying (read $) with Russian generals and Tajik politicians is not enough!