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Kazakhstan helps out US on Afghanistan
Astana (AFP) Feb 9, 2009 Kazakhstan on Monday became the latest nation to offer its territory for the transit of supplies to coalition troops in Afghanistan, following Kyrgyzstan's shock decision to shut a key US airbase. "Kazakhstan has given its consent to the transit of cargo by land for the logistical material for the US contingent in Afghanistan," Kazakh foreign ministry spokesman Yerzhan Ashikbayev told reporters. "We will work out the technical and commercial parameters with the US side separately," Ashikbayev said. "We are only talking about non-military materials," he emphasized. The announcement from Kazakhstan comes days after Kyrgyzstan's government ordered the closure of a US airbase that serves as a vital supply route for US and NATO troops in Afghanistan. The administration of US President Barack Obama has made Afghanistan a top priority and has pressed hard to secure overland transit agreements from Russia and Central Asian nations amid security problems on the Pakistan route. But Bishkek's announcement of the base's closure marked a major setback for the United States and NATO. Top officials, including new US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, have voiced deep regret over its plan. However, besides Kazakhstan, other states have now lined up to offer their support to the Western military alliance. Tajikistan also said last week it was ready to allow US and NATO supplies for Afghanistan, including construction materials, medicines, fuel and water, to transit its soil by road. Even Russia -- deeply suspicious of US presence on former Soviet territory -- has said it will agree to a US request to allow the transit of supplies for NATO forces in Afghanistan once Washington details what goods require transit. A Kyrgyz parliamentary committee on Monday moved a step closer to endorsing the government plan to close the US air base, officials said. The parliamentary committee for security and defence voted unanimously to shut down the base and will now pass the matter on to a full parliamentary vote to take place on Thursday. "This committee supports the government's offer to cancel the agreements with the United States regarding the presence of troops at the airbase at Manas," said the committee's spokeswoman Leila Sydykova. The US military base at Manas, Kyrgyzstan -- used by coalition forces to support tens of thousands of troops in neighbouring Afghanistan -- is considered vital to the ongoing fight there. Operated by about 1,000 troops, the Manas base was established to support coalition forces fighting to oust the Taliban regime in Afghanistan in the wake of the September 11, 2001 attacks in the United States. The closure was announced last week, after the Kremlin announced 330 million dollars (255 million euros) in aid and debt relief as well as a loan worth two billion dollars for the impoverished central Asian state. Kyrgyzstan has denied the decision to close the base was connected to the loans from Moscow. Share This Article With Planet Earth
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