Two Antonov-32 aircraft from Indian Air Force (IAF) will participate in exercises with the Tajik military

By IOL South Asia Correspondent

NEW DELHI, February 14 (IslamOnline) - India will send a team of military personnel to the central Asian country Tajikistan for joint military exercises this month.

In the second half of February, an Indian delegation would leave for Tajikistan to discuss the modalities of the joint military exercises by the two countries.

Tajikistan will be the first country with which India would have a military-to-military relationship in Central Asia, a region of strategic importance for India.

Tajikistan, and other two neighboring countries, Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan, are rich in mineral resources. They share their borders with Afghanistan, Pakistan and China.

These countries become important for India because of their proximity to countries considered "hostile" by India.

Two aircraft, Antonov-32s drawn from Indian Air Force (IAF), a platoon of military drawn from special forces battalion and IAF pilots would participate in jump exercises with the Tajik military.

Pilots belonging to the transport squadron of IAF would demonstrate the lift capability of the planes.

India’s direct relations with Tajikistan started during the civil war in Afghanistan under the ousted Taliban regime.

India opened a hospital at Farkhor in Tajikistan near Afghanistan-Tajikistan border.

The hospital played an important role in providing medical aid to injured fighters of the Northern Alliance fighting against Taliban.

The hospital was established in Tajikistan because India and Pakistan deny the access of their airways for each other's military aircraft. The hospital has now been shifted to Kabul.

According to reports in the Indian media last August the hospital site has been converted into a military base, first such Indian military facility outside India and has been quietly operational since May last year. The base is used for flights to Afghanistan.

Tajikistan Defense Minister Sherali Khairulloev visited India in December, 2001, and held meetings with Indian Defense Minister George Fernandes.

The two countries decided to exchange defense delegations on a regular basis and continue dialogue on mutual security.

Tajikistan President Emomali Sharifovich visited India in May, 2001, and signed a joint declaration on five key areas: combating drug trafficking, enhancing economic cooperation and legal assistance in criminal matters to tackle terrorism.

They also decided to cooperate in trade and economy, and industry.

The fifth agreement was on the resumption of air services between the two countries.

India-Tajikistan trade relations dates back to ancient times.

Informal ties between them were strengthened as India had close relations with former Soviet Union of which Tajikistan was a part.

When Tajikistan became independent from Soviet Union it felt the need of strategic relations with India.