Farkhor Air Base
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Farkhor Air Base is a military air base located near the town of Farkhor in Tajikistan, Script error: No such module "convert". 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]
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.[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.Script error: No such module "Unsubst".
Strategic location and geopolitical implications
The 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
References
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- ↑ India to station MiG-29 fighter-bombers at Tajikistan base Tribune India 22 April 2006
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