New Delhi: India no longer operates the strategically important Ayni air base in Tajikistan that it had helped develop and run since 2002.

While reports of its closure came out Tuesday, it is learnt that the development took place in 2022.

Sources told ThePrint that India was operating the air base along with Tajikistan on a lease period. In 2021, Tajikistan had informed India that the lease would not be extended and hence, New Delhi would have to withdraw men and equipment deployed there. Show Full Article

Sources added that the withdrawal had been completed in 2022 itself, but had remained under wraps so far.

It is learnt that Tajikistan did not want to extend the lease because of apparent pressure from Russia and China over non-regional military personnel at the air base.

Though I

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