IAF at Farkhor Air Base in Tajikistan present & future Ambitions

[illusion8]

until our core issues are not resolved we are hostile to each other, so any move that has a military angle to it has the potential to cause alarm on the opposing side.

consider the news of a PAF base in China bordering India and then decide if you would accept our assurances or not?

the base might have more regional goals not entirely focused for Pakistan but given the proximity, its location and our less than impressive relationship only leave us with the choice of caution and prepare accordingly.

The base is more to do with supporting the Northern Alliance in Afg rather than Pakistan, In any case the base is supposedly shared between Tajikistan/India/ Russia so getting the base involved into a Pakistan India conflict is out of the question reason being unnecessary complication of Tajikistan in the conflict.

 

[Irfan Baloch]

The base is more to do with supporting the Northern Alliance in Afg rather than Pakistan, In any case the base is supposedly shared between Tajikistan/India/ Russia so getting the base involved into a Pakistan India conflict is out of the question reason being unnecessary complication of Tajikistan in the conflict.

the Northern Alliance bit is now redundant as they are the ruling party in Afghanistan.

good argument in the end though.

 

[danger007]

It is a FACT that India is in possession of Farkhor Air Base in Tajikistan. Please note that the presence or absence of squadron of MIG-29s is only one aspect of the sheer ambition bordering obsession of establishing itself as a regional power & sell itself as a credible & suitable watchdog for American interests in the region.

Billions of dollars worth military acquisitions especially modernising the IAF goes very well with establishing a foothold in the greater region of South Asia /central Asia is very ambitious and hasn’t gone unnoticed by other countries in the region & Americans. For China and Pakistan it is a matter of concern for its military leadership and the strategic planners

The base south-east of Tajikistan’s capital, Dushanbe a stone’s throw away (in Aviation/ air force terms) from border to Afghanistan. To begin with India operated a small military hospital at Farkhor but also used the base to ship high-altitude warfare supplies to the Northern Alliance, and execute electronic intelligence-gathering operations. The base is operated by the Indian Air Force, Farkhor is India's first and only overseas military base.

This is by no means a defensive or economic based endeavour. Deploying Mig 29 fighter bombers is hardly meant for goodwill gesture to the other nations that are within the reach of its military aircrafts. IAF ran sorties with its helicopters in support of the northern alliance but that was not done solely out of love for their cause but it established its covert operations in Afghanistan as well with the consent of ever so grateful Northern Alliance.

Hence the placement of Indian consulates in Afghanistan being accused of supporting BLA is a story which keeps surfacing up whenever there is an escalation of violence in Balochistan. Concerns about this base were raised my Former President Pervez Musharraf to the Tajik government of the fact that Indian planes would be able reach Pakistan within minutes using the air base.

Implications for Pakistan
Dividing Pakistani resources to look out for yet another side of the border which has been historically less guarded compared to the Eastern side.

Implications for China
Are mainly to challenge its hopes to gain access to oil and gas resources from Central Aisa.

Finally
PAF chiefs recent comments about the ability to counter the IAF doctrine should be taking into account of our Northern air command’s bases that will keep that satellite IAF base in check. The F-16s at Sakardu airbase seem to be a prime example for that reason.

Better watch your mouth. who is watch dog for US. you are US non nato ally since 1947. who allowed them for drone attack.

 

[sputnik]

the Northern Alliance bit is now redundant as they are the ruling party in Afghanistan.

good argument in the end though.

It was opened after Kandahar episode. If we have great assets and stretegic power, as what some Pakistan members are trying to portrait on this thread, then we had used it in Kargil and Mumbai episodes.

 

[illusion8]

the Northern Alliance bit is now redundant as they are the ruling party in Afghanistan.

good argument in the end though.

Yes now, but for how long? what happens after the NATO pull out, seems they are too eager to wind up more or less by end of 2013. So what happens in Afg after that is anybody's guess. We cannot fly over Pakistani airspace to give a helping hand can we?

 

[Free Soul]

Better watch your mouth. who is watch dog for US. you are US non nato ally since 1947. who allowed them for drone attack.

Calm down mate no need to get angry dont be a Gringo. Already replied to the question of being watch dog of American interests Post#7 care to read?
Prior to 9/11 going back to 1980s US and Pakistani intersect only coincided when Pakistan felt the heat of Red army on our western border, America would have cared less if it was not for the Cold war. India on East and Russia more inclined to India to our west. We did what we did and did not setup bases on a third country.
This is besides the point.

Do we think that this Crapy base would pose a worrying threat to Pakistan. NO NOT AT ALL. It would be a drain on your resources though for which Pakistan cares less.
But Pakistan needs to be vigilant .

The point here is somebody is trying to mimic an Empire..
FACT - there is this base operated by IAF
Its besides the point whether or not there are MIGs there.

I will restate
This Base is a tell tale sign of a wanabe Empire. Major Regional player ... Protect Interests (the definition of these interests depends on the firepower and keeps on changing – History of Empires/wana be Empires) Soon protecting Democracy. Interests soon become having total monopoly on everything.

 

[Waffen SS]

Well tajikistan is a sovereign country and if it has allowed India to deploy some air assets there, then we can't do anything about it.

 

[Abingdonboy]

AFAIK IAF has one AFB at Farkhor which has only IAF helos and has been the subject of much debate, a second base at Ayani has been allocated to IAF secretly and the IAF has helos AND fighters stationed here. Additionally India has a tri-service military hospital( aswell as at Farkhor AFB) in the Tajik capital-Dushanbe, additionally the Indian army is setting up a mountain warfare training centre in Tajikistan for joint training. I think DRDO has also made in roads in building a torpedo training lake in Tajikistan.

 

[indianspetsnaz]

Pakistanis and Indians are jumping to conclusions the decision to base IAF aircraft was in the aftermath of the IC-814 hijacking we had no bases near Kandahar to fly SOF's with Farkhor we could base Mi-17's to transport SOF's and have MiG-29's provide fighter escort. i think this was the real reason to get farkhor operational another great fruit from the Vajpayee administration.

 

[Irfan Baloch]

Pakistanis and Indians are jumping to conclusions the decision to base IAF aircraft was in the aftermath of the IC-814 hijacking we had no bases near Kandahar to fly SOF's with Farkhor we could base Mi-17's to transport SOF's and have MiG-29's provide fighter escort. i think this was the real reason to get farkhor operational another great fruit from the Vajpayee administration.

Although the reasoning might seem extraordinary to some people but I will let it pass. And will like to make a comment taking it as kosher.

On bases it makes sense to have an Air Base in Tajikistan if 1.you expect hijacking of Indian planes on regular bases and 2. can predict that they will always head towards Afghanistan.

having such a foresight is not heard of but there is always a first. SOFs have been transported by British and Americans in such situations to places where they didnt have any air bases nearby. (Internet is filled with details about such mission but since going in further details is not the point of this thread I will leave it for people to look it up).

So justifying the costs involved to keep an Air base just for the sake of freeing the hostages in case of future hijacking seems excessive but maybe the deep Indian pockets justify such expenditure.

 

[MilSpec]

Rightly said that in a conflict it becomes handy, MIGs are hardly passenger aircrafts, if they are not meant for PAF then probably are there for some other reason .

Again Indian Air force is no USAF. Mig 29's are air superiority fighters. Do the math.

But has the ambitions to do so hence acquiring this base, i don’t think the US says that they are projecting power from foreign bases- it is just blatantly obvious.. isn’t it?

Who wouldn't. Everyone wants to have say in it's back yard. again India's sheer size lets it project it power in its immediate neighborhood, its navy is more than adept to confront any power in the region. If IAF wants real power projection then it should have it IAF brigade in farkhor and 2 additional airbases in Afganistan.Its all about our own interests!

Like Pakistan had a choice to say no to America after 9/11.. it was either stone age or being a so called Ally, over time Musharraf managed to get into a position where at least we were able to say that endless killing would get you nowhere...
India offered bases and full support to the US post 9/11 .. did it not? India requested President Bush to bypass Pakistan and give it the chance to be a frontline state in its war against terrorism; the idea obviously was to serve Indian interest by becoming frontline Ally and neutralizing age old most favoured Neighbour.

First off all this Indian offer to US is utter nonsense. We have never or will ever let a foreign force operate from our soil. That entire story was cooked up by aaj tak as what India might be offering, ministry of external affaisrs had straight up refuted that story, I remember that because I was in India when this happened. And btw for your kind information american aircrafts have been flying from your bases since coldwar era, so please refrain from B.S that you cannot back up.You have been an ally to US since 47 not 9/11.

A tell tell sign of a wana be Empire. Major Regional player ... Protect Interests (the definition of these interests depends on the firepower and keeps on changing – History of Empires/wana be Empires) Soon protecting Democracy. Interests soon become having total monopoly on everything.

Wannabe empire!!! read history... empires change , collapse and are reborn. We have no interest in becoming the flag bearers of some religion. Neither do we have any territorial aspirations. we are a country of nearly 20% of the world population, we were nearly bankrupt 3 decades ago, If we are doing well in recent time, its due the aspirations of the people of this country, All this development, economy, culture, way of life cannot be sustained by a weak military. Hence to ensure peace and well being of 20% of the world population which resides in the region, we need to protect our interests, our sea routes, our borders, our safety, our natural resources. We are trailing years behind in protecting our interests and safeguarding our citizens. If others want to see this as hegemonic designs, we should not really pay much attention to them.

back to farkhor.

to make any significant effect of IAF presence, these are the following that we will need there

2 Squadrons of SU 30 MKI, 1 Sqdn of Mig 29, transport a/c, 10th Base Repair depot.

Now I highly doubt that is possible with IAF at its lowest strength ever, wishfull thinking would be if we could lease 2 sqdns of Su27 and a sqdn of mig 29 from the russians to use over there??

 

[Sinnerman108]

back to farkhor.

to make any significant effect of IAF presence, these are the following that we will need there

2 Squadrons of SU 30 MKI, 1 Sqdn of Mig 29, transport a/c, 10th Base Repair depot.

Now I highly doubt that is possible with IAF at its lowest strength ever, wishfull thinking would be if we could lease 2 sqdns of Su27 and a sqdn of mig 29 from the russians to use over there??

Ahem,
please add the
1. Support staff
2. Engineers
3. Signals
4. housing and mess
5. Ground security
6. radar / surveillance staff

If all of the above are backed with dependable logistics, maybe you have some sort of power projection etc.
As the Americans are finding out these days, LOGISTICS are a tricky business.

 

[MilSpec]

Ahem,
please add the
1. Support staff
2. Engineers
3. Signals
4. housing and mess
5. Ground security
6. radar / surveillance staff

If all of the above are backed with dependable logistics, maybe you have some sort of power projection etc.
As the Americans are finding out these days, LOGISTICS are a tricky business.

All of the above means a base repair depot,
Typical IAF BRD consists, of garrison, maintenance staff, housing for the same, radar installation, 3 -5 overhaul hangars, spare engine storage, Armament depot etc.

 

[IndoUS]

Ahem,
please add the
1. Support staff
2. Engineers
3. Signals
4. housing and mess
5. Ground security
6. radar / surveillance staff

If all of the above are backed with dependable logistics, maybe you have some sort of power projection etc.
As the Americans are finding out these days, LOGISTICS are a tricky business.

Wan't the airbase being shared by India and Tajikistan? I don't get why is this such a big deal its not like we are flying the planes over Pakistan.

 

[indianspetsnaz]

Although the reasoning might seem extraordinary to some people but I will let it pass. And will like to make a comment taking it as kosher.

On bases it makes sense to have an Air Base in Tajikistan if 1.you expect hijacking of Indian planes on regular bases and 2. can predict that they will always head towards Afghanistan.

having such a foresight is not heard of but there is always a first. SOFs have been transported by British and Americans in such situations to places where they didnt have any air bases nearby. (Internet is filled with details about such mission but since going in further details is not the point of this thread I will leave it for people to look it up).

So justifying the costs involved to keep an Air base just for the sake of freeing the hostages in case of future hijacking seems excessive but maybe the deep Indian pockets justify such expenditure.

Pakistani terrorists would fly it out to either somewhere in Afghanistan or in Pakistan most likely its not like LeT, JeM, etc are being hunted down in your country in fact its quite the opposite so with this base we could try and use SOF's on a mission to kill the hijackers not only that but it gives the IAF a nice ability to get coverage to IAF planes in the western front i am pretty sure thewestern border of Pakistan is not as militarized as its eastern border.