The work on fencing the Ayni airfield area is under way.

“The airfield territory was expanded ten years ago and we are currently fencing the airfield area for the purpose of providing safety of flights and local population living close to the airfield,” an official source at the Ministry of Defense (MoD), told Asia-Plus in an interview.

According to him, several families, whose houses are located in the territory that will be fenced, will be relocated.

“A special commission will determine the exact number of families liable for relocation,” the source said, noting the commission will also set the size of compensation for their houses.  

Recall, the renovated Ayni airfield belonging to the Tajik Ministry of Defense was officially opened on September 3, 2010.

India contributed 70 million USD toward the renovation and sent specialists to help with the work.  The airfield, located some 20 kilometers west of Dushanbe, now has state-of-the-art navigational and defense technology.  Its runway was also extended to 3,200 meters so that all types of aircraft can land there.

Russia is currently using the Ayni airfield for deployment of its combat aircraft and helicopters.  A source at a MoD says Russia is using the airfield on the basis of a bilateral agreement between Dushanbe and Moscow.

He further added that it could not be ruled out that member nationals of the Collective Security treaty Organization (CSTO) and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) could also use the airfield on the basis of bilateral or multilateral agreements.