The US military is discussing the transfer of military equipment to several Central Asian Republics after its imminent pullout from Afghanistan, a Russian newspaper Kommersant reported.
The countries which include Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan were in ‘closed talks’ with the Pentagon concerning the transfer of armored vehicles, tank trailers and other specialised equipment. Some of the machinery will be handed over at no cost while other items would be given over for safe storage, the report said. A Kyrgyzstan military official confirmed that these talks had been initiated in the past, when the US and Kyrgyz defence ministers met.
A Russian diplomat, angered by the report responded by saying that holding such talks without Moscow being in the loop was “absolutely unacceptable”, citing the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO), which applies to all former Soviet states that includes Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan, stipulating that no signatory may enter a military alliance with any other country except those that were a part of the CSTO.
Published In The Express Tribune, June 16th, 2012.
COMMENTS (16)
Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.
For more information, please see our Comments FAQ
@A J Khan: ya need some because we will be begging more some were
@anwar: wake up they are not giving your country Moran
@Polpot: i don't know who will tell you that you are a Moran and Dork
I think you need to leave us in peace ( Uzbekistan), don't touch us, get you army stuff via Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan!! we don't need your money!!!
@FactCheck: My IPad 3 and iPhone 4 are the best! What do you make that's comparable?
@Polpot: ...I think that would just translate to over stocking the black market.
This validates Haqqani's statement that the USA would rather blow up it's equipment in place rather than cave in to Pakistan extortion.
Please give our share before you leave. SADA HAQ ITHEY RAKH.
@Bhindy Studio:
While you can rely on far superior Chinese equipment, right?
@Sky:
To keep you, Pakistan in check so you, Pakistan won’t use your strategic terrorists assets to destabilize Afghanistan.
We are going to rebuild Afghanistan as our ally in the region along with India to make Pakistan geographically unimportant!
The Russian diplomat must have a better understanding of the concept of a "military alliance". What the Nato and its allies have agreed upon with Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan has nothing to do with a military alliance. There's no agreement among the states involved that in the realm of national security the partners promise mutual assistance in the form of a substantial contribution of military resources. Thus, the definition leaves aside other forms of cooperation in the military and nonmilitary field.
good- more scrap steel for Pakistan re rolling.
@Polpot: No thanks............. no more reliance on u.s equipment!
Don't know if Russia can object if the material is provided gratis. America does not have enough confidence in the staying power of the ANA - and don't want to leave behind military equipment that could end up in the hand of the regional warlords or worse, the Taliban. I am sure Pakistan would have been happy recipient for most of this hardware if they had the capacity to see a couple of moves ahead.
Why not hand over to Pakistan for safe storage? ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Safe storage? What's the long term agenda here?