PRAGUE -- A senior U.S. official says more than two dozen transit flights with lethal military cargo destined for Afghanistan have been made over Russia under a July 2009 agreement with Moscow.
The official, who did not wish to be named, told RFE/RL that implementation of the agreement began slowly but has been proceeding smoothly since the beginning of this year.
The official said Washington plans to use the new supply corridor in "a much more aggressive way" in the coming months.
The flights originate in the United States and do not land in Russia. The official said Moscow originally had sought the right to inspect the flights, but had agreed to drop that request.
The official also said talks with Kazakhstan's government are under way to resolve issues that remain regarding cargo flight transit over Kazakhstan.
The official, who did not wish to be named, told RFE/RL that implementation of the agreement began slowly but has been proceeding smoothly since the beginning of this year.
The official said Washington plans to use the new supply corridor in "a much more aggressive way" in the coming months.
The flights originate in the United States and do not land in Russia. The official said Moscow originally had sought the right to inspect the flights, but had agreed to drop that request.
The official also said talks with Kazakhstan's government are under way to resolve issues that remain regarding cargo flight transit over Kazakhstan.