The paper quoted military sources as saying this is a prelude to "a larger strategic imprint" in the region, which India sees as crucial to its growing energy needs. The "eventual aim" is to station MiG-29 Fulcrum fighter aircraft at the airbase.
Previously, India has denied media reports that it was going to use an airfield near the republic's capital of Dushanbe.
India took part in the renovation and upgrading of the airport, which was used during the military campaign in Afghanistan, under a three-way agreement with Tajikistan and Russia, at a cost of $25 million.
"It may be just a military outpost at the moment but will develop into a full-fledged base in the future," the paper quoted a source as saying. "India wants a military presence in the area to keep tabs on any anti-Indian activity in the terrorism-infested Pakistan-Afghanistan region."
But the Tajik Defense Ministry denied Tuesday reports that India will deploy aircraft near the republic's capital.
"The Tajik Defense Ministry cannot confirm the information announced by the Indian defense department," said Takhmina Khairullayeva, deputy head of the Tajik Defense Ministry's International Relations Department.
Maj.-Gen. Maruf Khasanov, head of the International Relations Department, said earlier Tajikistan and India do not have an agreement on military cooperation.
"We only have an agreement on the modernization of the Ayni military airfield, which was signed in 2002, but this document does not provide for its use by the Indian Armed Forces," he said.
