November 17, 2003	Monday	Ramazan 21, 1424

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ISLAMABAD, Nov 16: The news report that India has set up its first permanent overseas military base in Tajikistan has set off alarm bells in the official circles in Islamabad and Rawalpindi.

Although the Tajik government has denied the report, Pakistan has been alerted by what it reads as the Indian “expression of intent” and has decided to remain watchful on this front, officials said.

The country’s diplomatic mission in Dushanbe and the division concerned here have been directed to monitor the situation and give an early assessment.

“We will cross-check and get an authentic report,” an official said.

Pakistan’s main concern is that such a development will open the area for strategic competition and hamper economic cooperation in the region.

“If India is pursuing a base in Tajikistan, Pakistan will take it very seriously because of its strategic, political and economic interests in the region,” a foreign ministry source said.

Pakistan believes that Indian air bases in the region can impede its plans to promote economic cooperation through the Economic Cooperation Organisation. “Instead of economic cooperation, the focus will shift to political and military alliances,” is how an official put it.

The government had approached the Tajikistan government on several occasions in the last six months on the issue and was assured each time that there was no basis to the reports, sources said.

According to sources Pakistan does not want to react publicly to the report until it has obtained some evidence that confirms it.

“Pakistan has taken note of the report and is currently examining the situation,” a foreign ministry official said.

Until now Pakistan had been under the impression that the Indian interest in Tajikistan was limited to repair and renovation of a former Tajik military base by the Indian military engineers.

However, the latest reports in the press about India establishing a base there have raised serious questions.

If true, this development can be a cause of concern for some other countries as well, including Turkey, Russia and Afghanistan, experts maintained.

The report of the Indian military base coincided with Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee’s first visit to Tajikistan.

During his visit, he announced that India would write off $10 million of debt and provide Tajikistan a grant of $5 million and a loan of $25 million.