US: Washington rejects call for troop pull-out from Central Asia

AKI/DAWN ^ | 2005 Jul 7

[Wiz]

Washington D.C., 7 July (AKI/DAWN) - The US State Department has rejected demands from Russia, China and some Central Asian states to withdraw its troops from the region, saying that US troops in Afghanistan and neighbouring states would remain for as long as those countries want them to stay. Russian and Chinese officials made the demand at meeting in Kazakhstan of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) which took place against backdrop of veiled criticism of Western influence in Central Asian region.

SCO delegates asked the US-led troop contingent to fix a date for their departure from military bases in the region that were set up to support operations in Afghanistan in 2001.

Founded in June 2001, the SCO includes China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.

The United States operates military airbases in Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan — two of the five former Soviet Central Asian republics that Russia still views as its backyard and where China, seeking oil and gas, is increasingly vocal player.

Other states from the neighbouring regions, such as India, Pakistan and Iran, are also attending the SCO summit now being held in the new Kazakh capital, Astana.

Asked to comment on the demand for the withdrawal of US troops from Central Asia, State Department spokesman Sean McCormack acknowledged that the United States maintained military bases in Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan.

He then pointed out that Afghanistan, where US troops and the official Afghan army were jointly fighting remnants of Taliban and al-Qaeda movements, did not endorse the demand for the withdrawal of US forces from the region.

"I would note, however, there was a party from those discussions and from the signature line on the statement who’s missing, and it’s Afghanistan," said McCormack.

[kharaku]

They should have said something like "Hey do you know how long the Soviets were in Afghanistan? We figure we've got another 9 years EASY before we think of leaving".

[LongsforReagan]

"Thanks, got the memo, OKaaaaay?"

[eamadia]

They should have said something like "Hey do you know how long the Soviets were in Afghanistan? We figure we've got another 9 years EASY before we think of leaving".

I do not think it should be a deal with Russia.

[kharaku]

Who's talking about a deal? The fact is the Soviets had their grubby little hands all through asia, to the extent it wiped out their military strength and aiding in crushing the soviet union. I say we tell those worried we're there that if it wasn't a problem for the soviets to be there for 10 years, it shouldn't worry anyone until we've been there at least so long.

[eamadia]

it's not about worrying Russia, China or whomever, it's about the feelings of Afghan people. US troops can remain for as long as Afghanistan wants them to stay, but NOT longer.