India expected to provide helicopters to Tajikistan, build hospital in Farkhor

DUSHANBE, June 9, 2013, Asia-Plus -- India will soon provide medium-lift choppers to Tajikistan and dedicate a hospital there as part of efforts to build on the strategic ties between the two countries against the backdrop of US-led troops preparing to pull out from Afghanistan in 2014, Press trust of India (PTI), which is India’s premier news agency, reported on June 6.

PTI quoted Indian Defense Ministry officials as saying that the 50-bed hospital would be inaugurated by Defense Minister A K Antony who is expected to visit Tajikistan next month.

The Indian Defense Ministry officials reportedly said that the decision to provide the Russian-origin Mi-series choppers and build a hospital in Tajikistan were taken during the visit of its President Emomali Rahmon''s visit to India last August.

According to PTI, the hospital was airlifted by the Indian Air Force recently which would help in providing specialist care to the local Tajik population in the southern part of the country.

“India had earlier also built a hospital in Tajikistan in Farkhor there in the late 90s on the Tajik-Afghan border to treat wounded Northern Alliance fighters battling against the then ruling Taliban regime.

“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 Organization 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.”