| Farkhor Air Base | |
|---|---|
| Farkhor,Tajikistan | |
| Site information | |
| Type | Military base |
| Owner | Tajikistan Air Force |
| Controlled by | Tajikistan Air Force |
| Location | |
  Farkhor Air Base Location within Tajikistan | |
| Coordinates | 37°28′12″N69°22′51″E / 37.4701°N 69.3809°E /37.4701; 69.3809 |
| Site history | |
| In use | Until 2008 |
| Materials | Asphalt |
| Garrison information | |
| Occupants | Indian Air Force Tajikistan Air Force |
Farkhor Air Base was a military air base located near the town ofFarkhor inTajikistan, 130 kilometres (81 mi) southeast of the capitalDushanbe.[1] It was planned to be operated by theIndian Air Force in collaboration with theTajik Air Force.[2] Farkhor isIndia's first military base outside its territory.[1]
In 1996–97, theResearch and Analysis Wing (RAW) started negotiations with Tajikistan to use the Farkhor Air Base to transport high-altitude military supplies to theAfghan 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 theTaliban, including military leaderAhmed 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, theBorder Roads Organisation stepped in to complete the work.[2] In 2006, India was considering deploying a squadron ofMikoyan MiG-29 aircraft at the base.[7] Subsequently the base was operationalized by 2007.[citation needed]
The Farkhor Air Base would have given theIndian Armed Forces more depth and range and is a tangible manifestation of India's move to project its power in Central Asia.[8]