July 20, 2007: India has spent some $20 million to build its first military base in a foreign country. Tajikistan is hosting several hundred Indian military personnel, half a dozen Mi-17 helicopters and several trainer aircraft. The ostensible reason for all this is to train Tajik pilots. But it also gives India an airbase on the border of Afghanistan, where India has growing commercial interests, and a large foreign aid presence. This first foray into foreign bases was done with the assent and cooperation of Russia, which still assists Tajikistan with border security.