Kyrgyzstan is strategic in that it borders China and hosts both American and Russian bases. Putin would like to get rid of the American military base Bishkek-Manas in Kyrgyzstan. According to the following Moscow plans to double the number of troops based there by the end of the year. #msg-3705853
Central Asia is full of rumors. They say that President of Kyrgyzstan Askar Akaev signed a secret deal with China involving land and the acceptance of 100,000 Chinese in Kyrgyzstan. #msg-3705853
Afghanistan is considered the conduit through which the U.S. might influence Central Asia in addition to being a source of drugs.
"There exists a point of view that the U.S. could take advantage of this and, under the pretext of the operation in Afghanistan, could strengthen their military presence in Central Asia," he said. "We hope that the American leadership will act on this issue in accordance with the promises made: that this military presence will be tied with the anti-terrorist operation in Afghanistan. And when this threat is liquidated, the necessity of the U.S. military presence in Central Asia will be no more." http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-ivanov18jul18,1,4945402.story?coll=la-headlines-.... #msg-3588219
Considering the militants and drugs crossing from Afghanistan and that the United States is strengthening their military presence in Central Asia under the pretext of the operation in Afghanistan, Russia and her allies, it seems, would love to get a foothold in Afghanistan and are considering pre-emptive operations in Afghanistan.
-Am
Russia, C. Asia in Anti-Terror Exercise
By KADYR TOKTOGULOV Associated Press Writer
August 6, 2004, 8:55 AM EDT
BALYKCHI, Kyrgyzstan -- Russian jets and helicopters struck mountainside targets in northern Kyrgyzstan on Friday in Central Asia's largest anti-terrorist military exercises since the Soviet collapse.
The more than 2,000 troops participating in the exercises were trying to demonstrate the ability of countries in the Collective Security Treaty Organization, a grouping of six former Soviet republics, to beat back a terrorist incursion.
It was also a chance for Russia to show it's still a force in Central Asia, where the arrival of American troops after the Sept. 11 attacks spawned a new struggle for influence in the strategic area.
"The situation in Central Asia is stable, but we don't rule out terrorist attacks in Afghanistan or any other countries in the region," Russian Defense Minister Sergei Ivanov said.
Aircraft from a new Russian-led base in Kyrgyzstan took part in the exercises for the first time, and a Russian commander said Moscow plans to double the number of troops based there by the end of the year. U.S. forces are also based in Kyrgyzstan.
The exercises took place as terrorist threats appeared to be rising in the region after two waves of attacks in neighboring Uzbekistan -- including suicide bombings last week at the U.S. and Israeli embassies and the chief prosecutor's office that killed at least four people. Uzbekistan is not a member of the security treaty.
In the exercises, troops from Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan battled 120 fictitious militants in a steep, barren gorge in Kyrgyzstan. Helicopters fired a barrage of rockets, and fighter jets bombed a village to weed out militants. Special forces from all four countries then swept into the village.
Kyrgyz President Askar Akayev said the group also is considering pre-emptive operations in Afghanistan, but gave no details.
Russia Will Sell Arms to Central Asia at Discount Prices Created: 06.08.2004 18:08 MSK (GMT +3), Updated: 18:08 MSK, 11 hours 26 minutes ago
The arms and military equipment Russia sells to its CSTO (Collective Security Treaty Organization) allies, including the Transcaucasian Armenia and Central Asian Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan will be delivered at “domestic” prices, Defense Minister Sergey Ivanov said at a news conference, RIA Novosti reported.
Other countries Russia deals with in military equipment are, for example, Vietnam, Indonesia, China, India, Brazil, and Persian Gulf countries, along with countries in Africa, presumably at export prices.
Russia also has plans to develop an air base in Kyrgyzstan, investing in the project.
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