Monday, February 13, 2012

Afghanistan

U.S. General Holds Talks With Tajik President

General John Abizaid (file photo)

24 August 2005 (RFE/RL) -- A top U.S. general met today with Tajik President Emomali Rakhmonov in Dushanbe for security talks.

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August 24, 2005

General John Abizaid, chief of the U.S. Central Command, told reporters that the talks touched upon Tajik cooperation with the international community in the fight against drug trafficking and terrorism.

Abizaid also expressed gratitude to the Tajik president for helping to maintain stability in the region.

Tajikistan has given U.S. planes refueling and overflight rights in conjunction with Afghanistan missions. French Air Force personnel and military aircraft are based at Dushanbe airport.

In Turkmenistan on 23 August, Abizaid told reporters he had assured President Saparmurat Niyazov that the American military is in the region to help bring stability to Afghanistan, not to confront any other countries.

(Asia-Plus)

For RFE/RL's full coverage of events in Central Asia, see "Central Asia In Focuse"

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