It's not going to serve much of a "geo-strategic" advantage or benefit, it's really just a waste of money a show-off move more than anything else. Having a small military "hospital" isn't really going to "strengthen geo-strategic footprint".
If it is a show off move, it will be done with a lot of fanfare and brouhaha, not in the quiet manner that it is being done now. "Strategic interest" can be a whole host of things, not simply dropping nukes at the drop of a hat. Central asian countries are going to be important for our future energy needs, from natural gas (turkmenistan) to Uranium (Kazakhstan). Having a small military hospital there can earn us the goodwill of many people. We built field hospitals for the frontline fighters of the Northern Alliance during their fight against the odious taliban regime, and we are reaping the benefits of that relationship today. From mining rights to intelligence activity, India is enjoying many priviledges that few other countries are. So what strategic purpose was served by courageously treating wounded fighters on the frontlines? The ability to initiate or control every conflict in that region? No, but much more rewarding things like access to mineral wealth and covert intelligence activity, whicch will secure the prosperity and security of our people for decades to come.
Similarly, a small military hospital to help the local population and armed forces of Tajikistan will also earn us benefits which may not bee visible to the naked eye - no jets strapped with nukes thundering from there, no imposing missile complexes. But we will see strategic benefits for our population, like access to energy supplies.
There were also rumors that India will set up helicopter and jet facilities there, and Musharaff himself protested loudly at the prospect, complaining that Indian migs can reach islamabad in four minutes from tajikistan. Now those were simply rumour that was never confirmed or denied by anybody officially. However, an antenna on top of or near the hospital that can eavesdrop on communication from neighbouring countries is not too far fetched an idea. (A listening post like we have in Oman.)
If we do eventually base a few jets or mi-17 V-5s there, it need not be to attack pakistan. Offering a helping hand to the countries nearby can be very worthwhile in the long run. Offering help to bangladesh in its freedom struggle eliminated a potential enemy on our east. Look at our relation with them today; other than a few border guards, we do not need to place any significant military resources there. We have their friendship, despite what you see on PDF. Besides, stationing a couple of squadrons of jets or a heliborne battalion there will mean that pakistan will have to divert a lot of its resources from its eastern border, to counter them. Now before you or other pakistanis start proclaiming about the base being blown up by pakistan during war - as I said, yes, it will be possible for pakistan, but at the price of diverting a lot of its meager resources. And its not like it will be easy either, because India will do its beest to keep things under wraps, keep pakistan guessing about what assets we have there or not. And as I said before, basing combat aircrafts there was only a rumour, so even if it is not true, all the rest of my points hold, and for those reasons, the money we spend there will be eminently well spent.
Even if we really have no military advantage, we will still have immense strategic and economic benefits by such moves.
All said and done, we do trust our armed forces, diplomats and other govt officials to not squander our money for show-off purposes. That has never happened in our military affairs. Not spending enough for their needs has been the norm.
haters gonna hate...
pathetic Indians.
