DUSHANBE, August 8, 2015, Asia-Plus -- Indian contingent is currently deployed in Tajikistan alongside the Russian military base, according to the Ministry of Defense (MoD).

An official source at a MoD says representatives of the Indian military contingent together with servicemen of the Tajik national army and the Russian military base are participating in sports competitions that are being held from August 4 to August 12.  These sports competitions are reportedly dedicated to the 22nd anniversary of formation of the Tajik national army.

Faridoun Mahmadaliyev, a spokesman for the MoD, says 73 Indian servicemen, mostly military doctors, now work at the hospital of the MoD military unit 07017 deployed in Khatlon province.

The India-Tajikistan Friendship Hospital with 50 beds was officially opened in early October last year and 73 medical workers from India will work at this hospital during two years.  They will also train their Tajik colleagues in operating the state-of-the-art equipment at the hospital.

“Besides, about 100 Indian technical specialists and instructors now work at the Ayni airfield,” Mahmadaliyev told Asia-Plus in an interview.

According to him, Indian instructors train Tajik military pilots.

We will recall that 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.