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US finds new Afghan supply route | US finds new Afghan supply route |
(20 minutes later) | |
The US will be able to take non-military supplies bound for Afghanistan through Tajikistan and Uzbekistan, a US commander has said. | |
Mark Harnitchek said between 50 and 200 containers would be sent via the two countries every week. | Mark Harnitchek said between 50 and 200 containers would be sent via the two countries every week. |
The announcement follows a decision by Kyrgyzstan to close a US air base - the only US military base in Central Asia. | The announcement follows a decision by Kyrgyzstan to close a US air base - the only US military base in Central Asia. |
The US is concerned that the Taleban is regrouping in Afghanistan and this week promised to send 17,000 more troops. | |
Rear Admiral Harnitchek is on a visit to the Tajik capital, Dushanbe, to investigate alternate supply routes into Afghanistan following the Kyrgyz decision to close the Manas base. | Rear Admiral Harnitchek is on a visit to the Tajik capital, Dushanbe, to investigate alternate supply routes into Afghanistan following the Kyrgyz decision to close the Manas base. |
"Tajikistan has given permission to use its railways and roads for the transit of non-military cargoes to Afghanistan," Harnitchek told Tajik state media. | "Tajikistan has given permission to use its railways and roads for the transit of non-military cargoes to Afghanistan," Harnitchek told Tajik state media. |
"We plan to transport 50 to 200 containers every week from Uzbekistan to Tajikistan and further to Afghanistan." | "We plan to transport 50 to 200 containers every week from Uzbekistan to Tajikistan and further to Afghanistan." |
See a map of Afghan supply routes | See a map of Afghan supply routes |
The US recently invested millions of dollars in a bridge connecting Tajikistan and Afghanistan, which will almost certainly be used to transport the supplies. | The US recently invested millions of dollars in a bridge connecting Tajikistan and Afghanistan, which will almost certainly be used to transport the supplies. |
The US had previously announced it intended to transport supplies to Uzbekistan through Russia and Kazakhstan. | The US had previously announced it intended to transport supplies to Uzbekistan through Russia and Kazakhstan. |
We are prepared to look at the fees and see if there is justification for a somewhat larger payment Robert GatesUS defence secretary Kyrgyz MPs vote to shut US baseVital role of US Kyrgyz baseUK backs US Nato troops call | We are prepared to look at the fees and see if there is justification for a somewhat larger payment Robert GatesUS defence secretary Kyrgyz MPs vote to shut US baseVital role of US Kyrgyz baseUK backs US Nato troops call |
It comes after Kyrgyzstan accused the US of not paying enough to rent the air base at Manas, near the capital city of Bishkek. | It comes after Kyrgyzstan accused the US of not paying enough to rent the air base at Manas, near the capital city of Bishkek. |
The licence to close the base was signed into law this week by Kyrgyz President Kurmanbek Bakiyev. | |
The Kyrgyz foreign ministry said on Friday that it had officially issued an eviction notice giving the US 180 days to vacate the area. | |
In a statement, the US embassy in Bishkek said it had not yet received any such notice. | |
Analysts have suggested that Kyrgyzstan's leaders will not carry out their threat to evict the US, but are using the law as a bargaining chip to get more rent money from Washington. | Analysts have suggested that Kyrgyzstan's leaders will not carry out their threat to evict the US, but are using the law as a bargaining chip to get more rent money from Washington. |
US Defence Secretary Robert Gates sought to play down the Kyrgyz spat on Thursday, saying the US was open to negotiation on the rent. | US Defence Secretary Robert Gates sought to play down the Kyrgyz spat on Thursday, saying the US was open to negotiation on the rent. |
"We are prepared to look at the fees and see if there is justification for a somewhat larger payment," he told a news conference. | "We are prepared to look at the fees and see if there is justification for a somewhat larger payment," he told a news conference. |
"But we're not going to be ridiculous about it." | "But we're not going to be ridiculous about it." |
Mr Gates is at a Nato meeting in Poland this week, where he has been pressing his allies to commit more troops to the Afghan conflict. | Mr Gates is at a Nato meeting in Poland this week, where he has been pressing his allies to commit more troops to the Afghan conflict. |
The 17,000 increase in troop numbers announced earlier this week will bring the number of US forces in Afghanistan to more than 50,000. | The 17,000 increase in troop numbers announced earlier this week will bring the number of US forces in Afghanistan to more than 50,000. |
EXISTING/POSSIBLE SUPPLY ROUTES TO TROOPS IN AFGHANISTAN 1. Manas airbase: the only US base in Central Asia, a vital transit point for Nato and US operations. Kyrgyz government wants it closed2. Karshi-Khanabad airbase: US forces were ordered out in 2005. Uzbekistan may agree to allow it to be used for non-military transports3. Bridge over Panj river: part-funded by the US, it was completed in 2007. May serve as another supply route into Afghanistan4. Khyber Pass: most supplies to US and Nato troops come through Pakistan. Increasing number of attacks in the area mean the US army is looking for back-up routes | EXISTING/POSSIBLE SUPPLY ROUTES TO TROOPS IN AFGHANISTAN 1. Manas airbase: the only US base in Central Asia, a vital transit point for Nato and US operations. Kyrgyz government wants it closed2. Karshi-Khanabad airbase: US forces were ordered out in 2005. Uzbekistan may agree to allow it to be used for non-military transports3. Bridge over Panj river: part-funded by the US, it was completed in 2007. May serve as another supply route into Afghanistan4. Khyber Pass: most supplies to US and Nato troops come through Pakistan. Increasing number of attacks in the area mean the US army is looking for back-up routes |
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