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]
History
In 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.[4]
In 2002, India acknowledged that it was setting up an air base in Farkhor.[5] It was secured with assistance from Russia.[6] The airbase was in a dilapidated condition[7] 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. Subsequently the base was operationalized by 2007.[8]
Strategic location and geopolitical implications
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.[9]