The French factor at Ayni

Most of the speculation surrounding the newly opened Ayni military airfield in Tajikistan centers around Russia and India, as the two countries most likely to use the base. But there is another factor: France has a couple hundred military engineers based at Dushanbe's international airport, and they might be moving to Ayni. According to Interfax:

It is believed that the French Air Force engineers corps offering support to French troops in neighboring Afghanistan may move to the new airdrome. Currently 300 French servicemen are deployed at Dushanbe's international airport.

Jane's Defence Weekly (not online) says that may be premature:

“I'm sure they are interested, but there is going to be a long negotiation process,” said one Tajikistan MoD official, speaking to JDW on condition of anonymity.

And RFE/RL spoke to a Defense Ministry spokesman, who said the issue of who will use the base is still up on the air, but that there is a possibility of another country using it:

Russian media reported that Rahmon and his Russian counterpart, Dmitry Medvedev, reached an agreement during talks in Dushanbe on August 30, 2008, that Russia would station five Su-25 fighter jets, Mi-24 and Mi-8 helicopters at Ayni after renovations were completed.

Muhammadaliev said those reports are are baseless. He said that "for now we have not signed any agreements with any country about the use of Ayni. This airport is for the [Tajik] air force and the antiaircraft defense of Tajikistan."