India To Supply MI-Series Choppers To Tajikistan

India will provide medium-left choppers to Tajikistan (and plans to dedicate a hospital) in order to built “strategic” ties between the two countries.   

The decision to provide the Russian-origin MI-series choppers come after Tajikistan President Emomali Rahmon's visit to India last August, officials said.

India has also developed the Ayni airbase near the Tajik capital Dushanbe, which provided it a foothold in the Central Asian region. India had deployed its Army and Border Roads Organisation personnel to upgrade the airbase by extending its runway, constructing an air-traffic control tower and perimeter fencing around the base.

The Ayni airbase was completed by India in 2008 after encountering minor problems there and had deployed over 100 personnel there for facilitating operations there, according to the Press Trust of India.