Farkhor Air Base is a military air base located near the town of Farkhor in Tajikistan, 130 kilometres (81 mi) southeast of the capital Dushanbe.[1] It was planned to be operated by the Indian Air Force in collaboration with the Tajik Air Force.[2] Farkhor is India's first military base outside its territory.[1]
| Farkhor Air Base | |
|---|---|
| Farkhor, Tajikistan | |
  Farkhor Air Base | |
| Coordinates | 37°28′12″N 69°22′51″E / 37.4701°N 69.3809°E |
| Type | Military base |
| Site information | |
| Owner | Tajikistan Air Force |
| Controlled by | Indian Air Force Tajikistan Air Force |
| Site history | |
| Materials | Asphalt |
| Garrison information | |
| Occupants | Indian Air Force Tajikistan Air Force |
History
editIn 1996–97, the Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) started negotiations with Tajikistan to use the Farkhor Air Base to transport high-altitude military supplies to the Afghan Northern Alliance, service their helicopters and gather intelligence. At that time, India operated a small military hospital in the Farkhor region.[1] The hospital at Farkhor was used to treat Afghan Northern Alliance members injured in fighting with the Taliban, including military leader Ahmed Shah Massoud, who was rushed there after a suicide attack against him.[3]
In 2002, India acknowledged that it was setting up an air base in Farkhor.[4] It was secured with assistance from Russia.[5] The airbase was in a dilapidated condition[6] and was not used since the 1980s. The Indian Government awarded a $10 million tender to a private builder in 2003 to restore the airbase by 2005.
After the builder defaulted, the Border Roads Organisation stepped in to complete the work.[2] In 2006, India was considering deploying a squadron of Mikoyan MiG-29 aircraft at the base.[7] Subsequently the base was operationalized by 2007.[citation needed]
Strategic location and geopolitical implications
editThe Farkhor Air Base would have given the Indian Armed Forces more depth and range and is a tangible manifestation of India's move to project its power in Central Asia.[8]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ a b c "Making the water boil in Afghanistan". The Hindu. 9 July 2008. Archived from the original on 12 July 2008. Retrieved 1 February 2012.
- ^ a b "India to station MiG-29 fighter-bombers at Tajikistan base". The Tribune. 22 April 2006. Retrieved 1 February 2012.
- ^ "India to open military hospital in Tajikistan". The Times of India. 21 November 2011. Retrieved 1 February 2012.
- ^ "Indian military shadow over Central Asia". Asia Times. 10 September 2002. Archived from the original on 17 September 2002. Retrieved 1 February 2012.
{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link) - ^ "India, Pakistan and the Battle for Afghanistan". Time. 5 December 2009. Archived from the original on 8 December 2009. Retrieved 1 February 2012.
- ^ William H. Keith, Stephen Coonts (2011). Death Wave. Quercus. p. 4. ISBN 978-0-85738-520-8.
- ^ India to station MiG-29 fighter-bombers at Tajikistan base Tribune India 22 April 2006
- ^ Tanchum, Micha'el (22 March 2019). "China's Tajikistan military base eclipses India's Central Asian ambitions". East Asia Forum. Retrieved 3 September 2021.