Consider the following statements regarding the Ayni Airbase: 1. Ayni Airbase is situated in Tajikistan, in close geographic proximity to the Wakhan Corridor. 2. India played a key role in renovating the airbase infrastructure through the BRO. 3. The facility is located on the coast of the Caspian Sea to protect maritime oil pipelines. Which of the statements given above are correct? |ForumIAS

[A] 1 and 2 only

[B] 2 and 3 only

[C] 1 and 3 only

[D] 1, 2 and 3

Answer: A

Notes:

Detailed Explanation:

Statement 1 is correct: Ayni Airbase lies approximately west of Dushanbe in Tajikistan, holding strategic value near Central Asia and the Afghan border (including the Wakhan Corridor).
Statement 2 is correct: Between 2002 and 2010, India spent approximately to upgrade the airbase runway and infrastructure using engineers from the BRO (Ministry of Defence).
Statement 3 is incorrect: Tajikistan is a double-landlocked country in Central Asia and has no coastline along the Caspian Sea.