Indo-Tajik relations

The bilateral relations between the Republic of India and the Republic of Tajikistan have developed considerably owing to both nations' cooperation on security and strategic issues. Tajikistan has allowed India to set up its first overseas military base.cite web |title=India's foray into Central Asia |url=http://www.atimes.com/atimes/South_Asia/HH12Df01.html |date=2006-08-12 |publisher=Asia Times |accessdate=2008-06-15] cite web |title=India to base planes in Tajikistan |url=http://www.tribuneindia.com/2003/20031115/main1.htm |date=2003-11-15 |publisher=The Tribune, India |accessdate=2008-06-15] cite web|title=IAF's base in Tajikistan will be ready by '04 |url=http://www.ipcs.org/Oct_04_militaryAirforc.pdf |format=PDF |author=Mahendra Ved|publisher=Institute for Peace and Conflict Studies, Times of India |date=2004-10-01 |accessdate=2008-06-15] cite web |title=IAF to station MiG-29s in Tajikistan |url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/msid-1498063,curpg-1.cms |date=2006-04-20 |publisher=Times of India |accessdate=2008-06-15]

Background

Diplomatic relations were established with Tajikistan's independence following the 1991 dissolution of the Soviet Union, which had been friendly with India. Tajikistan occupies a strategically important position in Central Asia, bordering Afghanistan, the People's Republic of China and separated by a small strip of Afghan territory from Pakistan. Both Russia and China have sought to cultivate ties with Tajikistan, which has also been seen as important in the war in Afghanistan against the Islamist Taliban and Al-Qaeda.cite web |title=India's foray into Central Asia |url=http://www.atimes.com/atimes/South_Asia/HH12Df01.html |date=2006-08-12 |publisher=Asia Times |accessdate=2008-06-15] cite web |title=Scramble for Central Asian bases |url=http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Central_Asia/ED09Ag01.html |date=2003-04-09 |publisher=Asia Times |accessdate=2008-06-15] India's role in fighting the Taliban and Al-Qaeda and its strategic rivalry with both China and Pakistan have made its ties with Tajikistan important to its strategic and security policies.cite web |title=India's foray into Central Asia |url=http://www.atimes.com/atimes/South_Asia/HH12Df01.html |date=2006-08-12 |publisher=Asia Times |accessdate=2008-06-15] cite web |title=Scramble for Central Asian bases |url=http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Central_Asia/ED09Ag01.html |date=2003-04-09 |publisher=Asia Times |accessdate=2008-06-15] Military presence in Tajikistan and its neighbouring Central Asian Republics has been coveted by the United States, Russia and China apart from India.cite web |title=India's foray into Central Asia |url=http://www.atimes.com/atimes/South_Asia/HH12Df01.html |date=2006-08-12 |publisher=Asia Times |accessdate=2008-06-15] cite web |title=Scramble for Central Asian bases |url=http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Central_Asia/ED09Ag01.html |date=2003-04-09 |publisher=Asia Times |accessdate=2008-06-15]

Bilateral cooperation

Despite their common efforts, bilateral trade has been comparatively low, valued at USD 12.09 million in 2005;cite web |title=India, Tajikistan to further bilateral trade |url=http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/articleshow/1842196.cms |date=2006-08-02 |publisher=Economic Times, Times of India |accessdate=2008-06-15] India's exports to Tajikistan were valued at USD 6.2 million and its imports at USD 5.89 million..cite web |title=India, Tajikistan to further bilateral trade |url=http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/articleshow/1842196.cms |date=2006-08-02 |publisher=Economic Times, Times of India |accessdate=2008-06-15] To expand economic cooperation and trade, Tajikistan and India established an inter-governmental commission on trade, economic, scientific and technical cooperation and have encouraged investment and trade in hydroelectricity, transport, mining, food processing, construction and tourism.cite web |title=India, Tajikistan to further bilateral trade |url=http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/articleshow/1842196.cms |date=2006-08-02 |publisher=Economic Times, Times of India |accessdate=2008-06-15] India has also offered to repair and modernize the Varzob-1 hydroelectric power plant.cite web |title=India's foray into Central Asia |url=http://www.atimes.com/atimes/South_Asia/HH12Df01.html |date=2006-08-12 |publisher=Asia Times |accessdate=2008-06-15] In 2006, the President of Tajikistan Emomali Rakhmanov made an official visit to India that resulted in bolstered efforts to expand trade and cooperation on anti-terrorism issues.cite web |title=India's foray into Central Asia |url=http://www.atimes.com/atimes/South_Asia/HH12Df01.html |date=2006-08-12 |publisher=Asia Times |accessdate=2008-06-15]

ITEC Assistance

As an LDC and one of the poorest countries in the world, Tajikistan is one of the large beneficiaries of the ITEC programme. Till date, 381 Tajik personnel have been trained under the ITEC scheme. Similarly, 160 students have received Government of India scholarships for higher studies, till date. So far, 35 Tajik military cadets and 67 young officers underwent training at National Defence Academy in Pune, Indian Military Academy in Dehradun and other training establishments and the first batch of Tajik officers graduating out of NDA and IMA returned to Tajikistan in June 2007 and were inducted into the Tajik Defence forces.

trategic and military ties

India's military presence and activities have been significant, beginning with India's extensive support to the anti-Taliban Afghan Northern Alliance (ANA). In 2002, India built a hospital at the Farkhor Air Base, located 60 km from the Afghan border, to treat wounded ANA fighters;cite web |title=India's foray into Central Asia |url=http://www.atimes.com/atimes/South_Asia/HH12Df01.html |date=2006-08-12 |publisher=Asia Times |accessdate=2008-06-15] the leader of the ANA Ahmed Shah Massoud had been rushed there after the fatal attack on his life on September 10, 2001. After the United States declined Tajikistan's offer to use the base, the Indian government began talks over utilizing the base, and the then-Indian Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee signed an agreement with the Tajik president to that effect on November 14, 2003.cite web |title=India to base planes in Tajikistan |url=http://www.tribuneindia.com/2003/20031115/main1.htm |date=2003-11-15 |publisher=The Tribune, India |accessdate=2008-06-15] India began renovating the base and stationed aircraft of the Indian Air Force there.cite web |title=India to base planes in Tajikistan |url=http://www.tribuneindia.com/2003/20031115/main1.htm |date=2003-11-15 |publisher=The Tribune, India |accessdate=2008-06-15] The use of the base was speculated to include the acquisiton of military and energy assets from the former Soviet republics of Central Asia, given India's primary reliance on Soviet/Russian weaponry.cite web |title=India to base planes in Tajikistan |url=http://www.tribuneindia.com/2003/20031115/main1.htm |date=2003-11-15 |publisher=The Tribune, India |accessdate=2008-06-15] India also sees the bases providing access to the oil and energy resources of Central Asia.cite web |title=IAF to station MiG-29s in Tajikistan |url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/msid-1498063,curpg-1.cms |date=2006-04-20 |publisher=Times of India |accessdate=2008-06-15] India also promised to aid in Tajikistan's defence and is providing training to the Tajikistan Air Force.cite web |title=India's foray into Central Asia |url=http://www.atimes.com/atimes/South_Asia/HH12Df01.html |date=2006-08-12 |publisher=Asia Times |accessdate=2008-06-15] cite web |title=India to base planes in Tajikistan |url=http://www.tribuneindia.com/2003/20031115/main1.htm |date=2003-11-15 |publisher=The Tribune, India |accessdate=2008-06-15] Indian presence at Farkhor has been objected to by Pakistan, which sees it as a threat.cite web |title=India to base planes in Tajikistan |url=http://www.tribuneindia.com/2003/20031115/main1.htm |date=2003-11-15 |publisher=The Tribune, India |accessdate=2008-06-15] The Farkhor Air Base became fully operational in 2006, and 12 MiG-29 bombers and trainer aircraft are planned to be stationed there.cite web |title=IAF to station MiG-29s in Tajikistan |url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/msid-1498063,curpg-1.cms |date=2006-04-20 |publisher=Times of India |accessdate=2008-06-15] cite web |title=India's foray into Central Asia |url=http://www.atimes.com/atimes/South_Asia/HH12Df01.html |date=2006-08-12 |publisher=Asia Times |accessdate=2008-06-15] India is only the fourth nation after the U.S., Russia and Germany to have a military base in Central Asia.cite web |title=India's foray into Central Asia |url=http://www.atimes.com/atimes/South_Asia/HH12Df01.html |date=2006-08-12 |publisher=Asia Times |accessdate=2008-06-15]

References