| Farkhor Air Base | |
| Location: | Farkhor, Tajikistan |
| Map Type: | Tajikistan |
| Map Size: | 220 |
| Type: | Military base |
| Coordinates: | 37.4701°N 69.3809°W |
| Materials: | Asphalt |
| Ownership: | Tajikistan Air Force |
| Controlledby: | Indian Air Force Tajikistan Air Force |
| Occupants: | Indian Air Force Tajikistan Air Force |
Farkhor Air Base is a military air base located near the town of Farkhor in Tajikistan, 130km (80miles) 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]
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.
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]