In a significant blow to India’s defense ambitions, Tajikistan has ordered the Indian military to vacate the Ayni Air Base, ending more than two decades of Indian presence in Central Asia.

According to foreign media reports, this was India’s only overseas military base, making its loss a major diplomatic and strategic setback for New Delhi.

The Ayni Air Base, located near Dushanbe, had been under Indian control for over 25 years, serving as a key element of India’s efforts to establish a foothold in Central Asia.

The base was seen as a critical link in India’s regional strategy — used for intelligence coordination, logistical support, and maintaining proximity to Afghanistan. Its closure marks the collapse of what experts have long called India’s “northern frontier” in the region.

$100m investment sinks with base

According to reports, India had invested $100 million in upgrading and maintaining the Ayni Air Base’s infrastructure, including runways, hangars, and surveillance systems.

The investment was made with the aim of securing long-term access for Indian air and intelligence operations. However, following Tajikistan’s decision to end India’s presence, that investment has effectively been lost.

Hub of regional intelligence, influence

Foreign media reports claim that the Ayni base had become the centre of India’s covert regional activities, providing it with strategic outreach and intelligence capabilities across Central and South Asia.

The facility reportedly played a key role in India’s interventions in Afghanistan, serving as a support hub for Indian-backed networks and intelligence operations in the region. The base’s eviction, therefore, is not just a military loss but a serious blow to India’s strategic influence.

Congress calls it 'strategic failure'

The Indian National Congress, the country’s main opposition party, reacted sharply to the development, calling the vacating of the base “a strategic failure for India.”

Party officials said the loss demonstrates the erosion of India’s diplomatic standing in Central Asia, a region that New Delhi once hoped would be a key part of its security and energy outreach.

Analysts note that India’s diminishing presence in the region also reflects the growing strategic alignment between Tajikistan, China, and Russia, leaving New Delhi increasingly isolated.

End of long-standing defense ambition

The Ayni Air Base was symbolic of India’s aspirations to project power beyond South Asia. Its loss marks the end of India’s only military footprint abroad and underscores the challenges facing its regional defense strategy.

With Tajikistan’s decision, India’s dream of establishing a strong military presence in Central Asia has effectively collapsed, dealing a severe blow to its broader geopolitical ambitions.