BISHKEK, July 25: US Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld said on Monday Washington would keep military bases in Central Asia, while officials moved to dispel fears it wants permanent facilities in the region.

The Pentagon operates air bases in Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan it deems ‘vital’ for delivering supplies to Afghanistan, but continuing access has become uncertain amid Russian and Chinese pressure that it withdraw.

“We feel we’ve had a good arrangement and good relationships in a number of those countries in the region. They’ve worked well for us,” said Rumsfeld, who arrived in Kyrgyzstan on his second visit to the ex-Soviet state in three months.

“Obviously, from time to time, things may be adjusted one way or another. But we don’t have any announcements to make,” said Rumsfeld, who will meet Kyrgyzstan’s newly elected president on Tuesday to discuss the base’s future.

Rumsfeld did not back off remarks made on July 14 by General Richard Myers, the top US military officer, that Russia and China were ‘trying to bully’ Central Asian nations into demanding a timetable for a US troop withdrawal.

“I think each country in the region, however, will make up their own minds as to what their relationships with others will be,” Rumsfeld told reporters travelling with him.

The United States has used Central Asia as a stepping stone to Afghanistan since it toppled the Taliban government there for sheltering Al Qaeda leader Osama Bin Laden after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks on US targets.

Russia views the five former Soviet states in Central Asia as its backyard, and neighbour China has also become more vocal.

“We’ve said all along we have no intention of permanent US bases in the region,” said a senior US defence official travelling with Rumsfeld, declining to say when operations in Afghanistan would no longer require the bases.

The Pentagon has 1,000 troops and nine cargo and refuelling planes at Ganci air base at Kyrgyzstan’s main civilian airport outside the capital Bishkek. Russia uses an air base northwest of Bishkek, making Kyrgyzstan the only country hosting both US and Russian bases.

Kyrgyzstan’s newly elected President Kurmanbek Bakiyev this month questioned the continued US presence, and Uzbekistan imposed restrictions on US flights following Washington’s criticism of a bloody government crackdown on demonstrators in the eastern town of Andizhan.—Reuters

Opinion

Editorial

Judiciary’s SOS
Updated 28 Mar, 2024

Judiciary’s SOS

The ball is now in CJP Isa’s court, and he will feel pressure to take action.
Data protection
28 Mar, 2024

Data protection

WHAT do we want? Data protection laws. When do we want them? Immediately. Without delay, if we are to prevent ...
Selling humans
28 Mar, 2024

Selling humans

HUMAN traders feed off economic distress; they peddle promises of a better life to the impoverished who, mired in...
New terror wave
Updated 27 Mar, 2024

New terror wave

The time has come for decisive government action against militancy.
Development costs
27 Mar, 2024

Development costs

A HEFTY escalation of 30pc in the cost of ongoing federal development schemes is one of the many decisions where the...
Aitchison controversy
Updated 27 Mar, 2024

Aitchison controversy

It is hoped that higher authorities realise that politics and nepotism have no place in schools.