Current Affairs - Defence - Discussion

The Ayni Airbase, located near Dushanbe in Tajikistan, was India’s only overseas military facility until its quiet withdrawal in 2022. Originally a Soviet-era base, Ayni was renovated by India’s Border Roads Organisation (BRO) in the early 2000s with an investment of around $80 million. The base featured a 3,200-metre runway, hangars, and fuel storage, and served as a key strategic outpost near Afghanistan, Pakistan, and China. India’s withdrawal followed the non-renewal of its lease by Tajikistan, reportedly under Russian and Chinese pressure, marking a significant reduction in India’s military footprint in Central Asia.