India's Ayni Military base in Tajikistan is Russia-Locked

[arp2041]

Won't happen if Russians really don't want it to happen. We simply don't have enough clout militarily or diplomatically to muscle our way into Russia's backyard with a military base. Russia can put a lot more pressure on central Asian countries than India can. Our diplomacy's triumph would be if we can get the Russians to agree, by convincing them that we don't pose any kind of threat to their interests, or even better, that it can work out to be in Russia's interest too.

Israel and India are independent countries, but USA can still block a sale of radars to India from Israel by pressurizing them. If the US can prevent us from getting a few radars from israel, Russia can definitely pressurize Tajikistan about a military base.

Yes, i agree that without the formal approval of Russia, no outside power can operate a military base in CIS nations, not even US will be able to do that. Actually, we should be proud of our diplomacy that we have able to convince the Tajik authorities to give us a base there, even though it currently does not have any fighter jets does not take anything away from the fact that it is India's only foreign military base. It will be very useful asset when the year 2014 comes as it will give us some leverage vis-a-vis our Afghan investments as we do not have direct access to Afghanistan.

It is time that we should convince the Russian authorities that this base will be important for the central asian region as a whole & will not be a headache for Russia, as Indian & Russian interests are more or less same as we both don't want US to become a power in central Asia nor we both want Taliban back in Kabul. Even if Russians don't agree i don't think India will leave the base easily as India has invested a lot for it's up gradation (time, money & manpower).

 

[peep]

Yes, i agree that without the formal approval of Russia, no outside power can operate a military base in CIS nations, not even US will be able to do that. Actually, we should be proud of our diplomacy that we have able to convince the Tajik authorities to give us a base there, even though it currently does not have any fighter jets does not take anything away from the fact that it is India's only foreign military base. It will be very useful asset when the year 2014 comes as it will give us some leverage vis-a-vis our Afghan investments as we do not have direct access to Afghanistan.

It is time that we should convince the Russian authorities that this base will be important for the central asian region as a whole & will not be a headache for Russia, as Indian & Russian interests are more or less same as we both don't want US to become a power in central Asia nor we both want Taliban back in Kabul. Even if Russians don't agree i don't think India will leave the base easily as India has invested a lot for it's up gradation (time, money & manpower).

We should try to convince them that the fighters will not cross some mutually agreed line ( series of coordinates )....

 

[hunter_hunted]

I really dont get it what is the need to build a base so far from ur home.

 

[illusion8]

Yes, i agree that without the formal approval of Russia, no outside power can operate a military base in CIS nations, not even US will be able to do that. Actually, we should be proud of our diplomacy that we have able to convince the Tajik authorities to give us a base there, even though it currently does not have any fighter jets does not take anything away from the fact that it is India's only foreign military base. It will be very useful asset when the year 2014 comes as it will give us some leverage vis-a-vis our Afghan investments as we do not have direct access to Afghanistan.

It is time that we should convince the Russian authorities that this base will be important for the central asian region as a whole & will not be a headache for Russia, as Indian & Russian interests are more or less same as we both don't want US to become a power in central Asia nor we both want Taliban back in Kabul. Even if Russians don't agree i don't think India will leave the base easily as India has invested a lot for it's up gradation (time, money & manpower).

The Russians are confused regarding US extended intentions in Afghanistan - on the one hand it does not want the NATO forces to leave Afg on the other hand it is worried about an extended stay by US forces, which will be right next door to Russia and its area of influence. In this scenario it again is confused with India's intention and what role it will adopt post 2014 and India's presence in Tajikistan might be used indirectly against Russian interests. Though we have no intention to do that but Russia is not yet sure.

 

[arp2041]

The Russians are confused regarding US extended intentions in Afghanistan - on the one hand it does not want the NATO forces to leave Afg on the other hand it is worried about an extended stay by US forces, which will be right next door to Russia and its area of influence. In this scenario it again is confused with India's intention and what role it will adopt post 2014 and India's presence in Tajikistan might be used indirectly against Russian interests. Though we have no intention to do that but Russia is not yet sure.

The answer to that can be to jointly operate the base (with Russians) with full force of fighters, helos etc. Obviously our interests are in Afghanistan & Pakistan since in the former we have huge investments running into millions of dollars while with later we have huge differences, so a base close to both will help India follow it's interests with more strength, Russians know this & when they will operate the base jointly with India they will find out that Indians have no anti-Russian designs, so it will be a win-win for both.

 

[phylumchordata]

Had to happen some day ! Why would the Kremlin want/allow Indians in their backyard while they are inching closer to the US ?

India stands on its own...not like others who need a husband now and then.

 

[scorpionx]

I really dont get it what is the need to build a base so far from ur home.

Mainly two reasons
1.Strategic importance of Afghanistan
2.Energy rich Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan

 

[Norboo]

There are limits in friendship. Apparently you cannot go and sleep with your friends wife - same implies here.

Like Sino-Pak friendship too?

 

[Norboo]

Will Pakistan or China ever allow you to station your aircraft in Dushanbe from their territory ? ...

Oh? Who are you or China to allow or not to allow? It's better if you guys mind your own business and concentrate instead on tackling the TTP and Balochistan where you have your hands full.

Poking noses in the affairs of other countries won't do you any good. There'll only be more egg on your faces!

 

[manofwar]

It's Farkhor Airbase, not Ayni which India is planning to operate.........
India-Afghanistan Relations
The Tribune, Chandigarh, India - Main News
The Tribune, Chandigarh, India - Main News

 

[Bobby]

It will be interesting scenario when Pakistan will be attacked from North , South and East in next war

 

[janon]

I really dont get it what is the need to build a base so far from ur home.

To project power far from home.

 

[INDIC]

It's Farkhor Airbase, not Ayni which India is planning to operate.........
India-Afghanistan Relations
The Tribune, Chandigarh, India - Main News
The Tribune, Chandigarh, India - Main News

Both of them.

 

[scorpionx]

It's Farkhor Airbase, not Ayni which India is planning to operate.........
India-Afghanistan Relations
The Tribune, Chandigarh, India - Main News
The Tribune, Chandigarh, India - Main News

Ayni is also on the table for a long time and the French,Americans and the Russians are too much interested to get this base for different reasons.

 

[tvsram1992]

What India gains by stationing a few jets in base separated from the mainland by hostile territories?

The same thing which we gain by having an aircraft carrier to attack Pakistan