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| Afghanistan |
| Two Central Asian states will allow US aircraft |
| 2001-09-21 |
AMERICA has reportedly won approval from two former Soviet Central Asian states to deploy combat aircraft from their bases north of Afghanistan. According to The Washington Post, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan have both agreed to allow the US Air Force to use its facilities to mount patrols and even combat missions against Osama bin Laden, the fugitive terrorist, and his hosts, the Taleban religious authorities. If the deployment goes ahead it would mark the first time since the collapse of Communism a decade ago that American warplanes have been allowed to use facilities in the former Soviet Union on combat missions. When the move was first proposed, in the wake of last week's bombings, Russia's military chiefs angrily condemned the idea, fearing that America would gain a toehold in a region that Russia has considered its backyard since the 19th century. However, President Bush is known to have held direct talks with President Karimov of Uzbekistan. The Kremlin's approval was regarded as necessary for the use of Tajik bases, where thousands of Russian troops are based. Spokesmen for the two countries yesterday denied that any deal had been made, but it is entirely possible that the American deployment will take place in total secrecy. A similarly secret deployment of American airborne troops is expected in Pakistani air bases near the Afghan border. |
| Posted by:Fred Pruitt |