Setback for strategic diplomacy: Cong on India wrapping up presence at Tajikistan airbase
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New Delhi (PTI): The Congress on Saturday said India wrapping up its operation at Tajikistan's Ayni airbase is "yet another setback" for the country's strategic diplomacy.
In a post on X, Congress general secretary in-charge communications Jairam Ramesh said India established its Ayni air force base in Tajikistan in the early 2000s and the infrastructure there was subsequently expanded.
Given its extraordinary location, India had major plans for expanding its presence at Ayni, he said.
"But four years back, India had been given a very clear message that it must gradually withdraw. Now it appears that India has finally shut down the base which was its only overseas military facility," Ramesh said.
"This is, without (a) doubt, yet another setback for our strategic diplomacy," he said.
Incidentally, Ayni is around 10 km from Tajikistan's capital Dushanbe, which has a wonderful museum, he pointed out.
One of the most striking and remarkable exhibits there is the Buddha of the Nirvana that is believed to be over 1,500 years old, Ramesh said.
India has wrapped up its operation at a strategic air base in Tajikistan's Ayni following the lapse of a bilateral agreement, people familiar with the matter said this week.
The agreement between the Indian and Tajik governments for the development and joint operation of the airbase ended about four years ago, they said.
India was involved in the development of the Soviet-era airbase, including strengthening its runway fuel depots and an air traffic control facility.
Though India pulled out its personnel and military equipment from the airbase near Dushanbe in 2022, the reason for wrapping up its presence has emerged recently.
India's military presence at the Ayni base was seen as part of its efforts to expand its strategic influence in central Asia.
Initially, New Delhi decided to have a presence at the airbase to support the erstwhile Northern Alliance in Afghanistan.
The Indian military had even temporarily deployed Su-30MKI fighter jets as well as military choppers at Ayni around 10 years ago.
In 2021, India used Ayni airbase to rescue its nationals and officials from Afghanistan after the Taliban seized control of the country.
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Assam: 23,000 people affected by urban floods as IMD forecasts more rain
Guwahati (PTI): More than 23,000 people have been affected by urban floods in Assam as rains lashed several parts of the state, while the IMD warned of more showers, official sources said on Friday.
The Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA), in its bulletin, said urban floods have been reported from the three districts of Kamrup (Metropolitan), Sribhumi and Cachar.
Four revenue circles and 12 villages have been inundated in these districts, affecting 23,619 people.
The worst-hit has been Cachar district, where 15,617 people have been affected, followed by Sribhumi with 8,002 flood-hit people, according to the bulletin.
There were no reports of deaths or people missing in the urban floods in the last 24 hours, the ASDMA said.
Fifty-three marooned people and three animals were rescued by a State Disaster Relief Force boat in Sribhumi district.
Meanwhile, the Regional Meteorological Centre (RMC), Guwahati, has issued an 'orange alert' for the four districts of Sribhumi, Hailakandi, Cachar and Dima Hasao for the next 24 hours.
An 'orange alert' implies 'be prepared to take action' and is sounded when thunderstorm and lightning accompanied with gusty wind reaching wind speed 30 to 40 kmph, with heavy to very heavy rainfall is likely to occur at isolated places.
'Yellow alert' to be on 'watch/be updated' has been issued for 20 districts -- Dhubri, South Salmara-Mankachar, Goalpara, Kokrajhar, Barpeta, Bongaigaon, Bajali, Tamulpur, Nalbari, both Kamrup districts, Udalguri, West Karbi Anglong, Sonitpur, Biswanath, Lakhimpur, Dhemaji, Charaideo, Dibrugarh and Tinsukia.
Some of the districts on 'yellow alert' are likely to continue receiving heavy rainfall along with thunderstorms for the next couple of days, as per the RMC forecast.
