Tajikistan has a lot of
potential for tourism. India hosts one of the overseas air force bases in
Tajikistan, which can help her to open a second front over Pakistan from the
North. These two bases are Ayni and Farkhor air force base.
In
the eyes of India, Tajikistan has a special position in Central Asia. It borders Afghanistan, the People's
Republic of China and Pakistan occupied Kashmir.
The
Ayni airbase, originally used by the Soviets during the 1980s, was abandoned
after their withdrawal from Afghanistan. India contributed technical
assistance and US$70 million to renovate the airbase between 2003 and 2010.
India has also installed state-of-the-art navigational and defence technology
and has contributed to extend the runway to 3,200 metres to accommodate all
types of aircraft.
However,
in December 2010, Tajikistan announced that Russia was the only country under
consideration to use the Ayni airbase in future. India, on the other hand, has been
effectively closed out of Ayni. It is believed that the Russians
intervened, to shunt off India from gaining access to Ayni air force base
because it does not want India to encroach its own backyard where it enjoys
an enormous amount of influence. It might also be a different case. Tajik
officials might be downplaying their involvement in the base because they do
not want to play or fiddle with the sensitivities of Beijing and Islamabad
towards India.
India
has spent almost $70 million, including equipment costs, to completely repave
and extend the runway at Ayni, set up air traffic control and perimeter
fencing and build three hardened shelters -- all, the Indian official
confirmed, with an eye to supporting fighter-jet operations. That might be
the real reason behind Tajikistan’s reticence to officially clarify the
status of the base.
While
Ayni will allow India to watch over northern Afghanistan in the aftermath of
a NATO withdrawal, it can also provide coverage for Indian fighter aircraft
over northern Pakistan and western China, areas that lack robust air defence
networks.
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Since
Tajikistan is hilly and suffers from lack of connectivity with Uzbekistan,
India doesn't have any substantial investment in Tajikistan. However, this
might change once Indian companies start realising the scope and benefits of
CASA 1000 project (Central Asia South Asia) and start investing there.
While
Indian companies will benefit, the government can show their actions under the
Clean Development Mechanism or Joint implementation or Emissions trading
mechanisms in Kyoto protocol.
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