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|ownership = [[Military of Tajikistan|Tajikistan Air Force]] |
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|controlledby = [[Military of Tajikistan|Tajikistan Air Force]] <br/> [[ |
|controlledby = [[Military of Tajikistan|Tajikistan Air Force]] <br/> [[Russian Air Forced]] |
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|occupants = [[Military of Tajikistan|Tajikistan Air Force]]<br/> [[ |
|occupants = [[Military of Tajikistan|Tajikistan Air Force]]<br/> [[Russian Air Force]] |
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| Farkhor Air Base | |
|---|---|
| Parkhar, Tajikistan | |
  Farkhor Air Base
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| Coordinates | 37°28′12″N 69°22′51″E / 37.4701°N 69.3809°E / 37.4701; 69.3809 |
| Type | Air force base |
| Site information | |
| Owner | Tajikistan Air Force |
| Controlled by | Tajikistan Air Force Russian Air Forced |
| Site history | |
| Materials | Asphalt |
| Garrison information | |
| Occupants | Tajikistan Air Force Russian Air Force |
Farkhor Air Base is a military air base located near the town of FarkhorinTajikistan, 130 kilometres (81 mi) southeast of the capital Dushanbe.[1] It is operated by the Indian Air Force[2] in collaboration with the Tajik Air Force.[3] Farkhor is India's first military base outside its territory.[1] Chabahar Port in Iran, developed by India, provides India surface transport access to Farkhor Air Base via Afghanistan.[4]
In 1996-97, Indian intelligence agency, Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) started negotiations with Tajikistan to use the Farkhor airbase 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.[5] In 2002, India acknowledged that it was setting up an air base in Farkhor.[6] It was secured with assistance from Russia.[7] The airbase was in a dilapidated condition[8] 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.[3] In 2006, India was considering deploying a squadron of MiG 29 aircraft at the base.[9]
The Farkhor Air Base would give the Indian military the required depth and range in seeking a larger role in the Indian Subcontinent and is a tangible manifestation of India’s move to project its power in Central Asia, a policy goal formally enunciated in 2003/04.[citation needed]
The potential implications of this base go far beyond the Indo-Pakistani rivalry on the subcontinent. Pakistan fears being encircled by India with the base in Farkhor operational.[10] In 2003 the President of Pakistan Pervez Musharraf raised concerns to the Tajik government over the fact that Indian planes would be able reach Pakistan within minutes using the air base.[11]
