Kazakstan’s president offers air and military bases for anti-terrorist effort

By Timofei Zhukov

Associated Press

TASHKENT, Uzbekistan – Kazakstan’s president said Monday that his Central Asian nation was ready to offer airspace and military bases for an anti-terrorist coalition.

“We’ve already given our general agreement that we’ll provide all necessary support. But there has been no concrete request yet,” President Nursultan Nazarbayev told a news conference in the Kazak capital, Astana.

Of the five former Soviet republics in Central Asia, Kazakstan is the farthest from Afghanistan, the target of potential retaliatory strikes for the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks on the United States. Washington has expressed more interest in using bases in Uzbekistan or Tajikistan, which border Afghanistan.

The Central Asian nations and Russia – which wields considerable influence in the region – publicly have given conflicting signals about the extent of the assistance they would provide the United States for a military operation in Afghanistan.

Russian President Vladimir Putin said Monday that Russia would allow the United States to use it airspace for planes carrying “humanitarian cargo” to the region and that the Central Asian states did not rule out providing the use of their airfields.

Russian officials made contradictory statements in recent days about their country’s stance on American use of bases in Central Asia. Defense Minister Sergei Ivanov said last week that Russia would object to U.S. military strikes from the region, but Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov said it was up to each of the countries to make its own decision.

Putin spoke by phone Sunday with the leaders of all five of the former Soviet republics in the region, and said Monday that they had coordinated their positions on the issue.

Turkmenistan’s President Saparmurat Niyazov said Monday he had promised Secretary of State Colin Powell that his country’s territory and airspace could be used to bring food aid to neighboring Afghanistan.

Niyazov said during a Cabinet meeting that Powell asked permission for the corridors during a phone conversation on Friday. It was unclear where the cargo would come from or when.

Niyazov said nothing about allowing military overflights or ground transport, but reiterated his country’s neutral status.

The Russian Interfax news agency, quoting unidentified sources, said three U.S. Air Force transport planes had arrived in Uzbekistan this weekend carrying about 200 U.S. troops and reconnaissance equipment.

Uzbek Defense Ministry spokesman Bakhtiar Shakirov denied Monday that any U.S. planes had landed in Uzbekistan, the ITAR-Tass news agency reported.

However, a source in the main intelligence department of the Uzbek Defense Ministry told The Associated Press on Monday that two U.S. aircraft, a C-130 Hercules and a C-141 Starlifter, made a two-hour stop at Tashkent’s civilian airport on Thursday. Nothing was unloaded from the aircraft, the source said on condition of anonymity.

Both the Pentagon and a spokesman for the U.S. Embassy in Tashkent refused to comment. Powell, asked in an interview on ABC on Sunday whether troops had landed in Uzbekistan, said “not to my knowledge.”

AP reporters visited the military airfield outside Tashkent and saw no signs of any American presence there. The capital’s civilian airport is now heavily guarded and open only to ticketed passengers.

There were also unconfirmed media reports that U.S. forces had landed at an air base in Tajikistan. Tajik Defense Minister Sherali Khairullayev denied the reports and said there had been no discussion of allowing the United States to use Tajikistan’s bases, according to Interfax.

Copyright ©2001 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Local News

Customers enter and exit the Costco on Dec. 2, 2022, in Lake Stevens. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Costco stores could be impacted by looming truck driver strike threat

Truck drivers who deliver groceries and produce to Costco warehouses… Continue reading

Two Washington State ferries pass along the route between Mukilteo and Clinton as scuba divers swim near the shore Sunday, Oct. 22, 2023, in Mukilteo, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Ferry system increases ridership by a half million in 2024

Edmonds-Kingston route remains second-busiest route in the system.

Alina Langbehn, 6, center, and Vera A., 6, right, sit on a swing together at Drew Nielsen Neighborhood Park after school on Tuesday, Jan. 28, 2025 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Everett council votes to renovate Drew Nielsen Park

Construction on the $345,000 upgrade could start as early as this fall.

Northshore School District bus driver Stewart O’Leary pictured next to his buses shattered drivers side windshield on Friday, Feb. 14, 2025 in Bothell, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
‘Put me in, coach’: Bus driver back at work after struck by metal bar

Stewart O’Leary, a Northshore employee, has received national attention for his composure during a frightening bus trip.

Lynnwood councilor Joshua Binda speaks during a Lynnwood City Council meeting on Wednesday, Nov. 20, 2024. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Does the Lynnwood Council VP live in Lynnwood? It’s hard to say.

Josh Binda’s residency has been called into question following an eviction and FEC filings listing an Everett address. He insists he lives in Lynnwood.

Robin Cain with 50 of her marathon medals hanging on a display board she made with her father on Thursday, Jan. 2, 2025 in Lake Stevens, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Running a marathon is hard. She ran one in every state.

Robin Cain, of Lake Stevens, is one of only a few thousand people to ever achieve the feat.

People line up to grab food at the Everett Recovery Cafe on Wednesday, Dec. 4, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Coffee, meals and compassion are free at the Everett Recovery Cafe

The free, membership-based day center offers free coffee and meals and more importantly, camaraderie and recovery support.

The Everett Wastewater Treatment Plant along the Snohomish River on Thursday, June 16, 2022 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Everett water, sewer rates could jump 43% by 2028

The rate hikes would pay for improvements to the city’s sewer infrastructure.

The bond funded new track and field at Northshore Middle School on Thursday, Oct. 24, 2024 in Bothell, Washington. (Courtesy of Northshore School District)
Northshore School District bond improvements underway

The $425 million bond is funding new track and field complexes, playgrounds and phase one of two school replacements.

An American Robin picks a berry from a holly tree on Thursday, Feb. 13, 2025 in Edmonds, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Calling all birders for the annual Great Backyard Bird Count

The Audubon Society will hold its 28th annual Great Backyard… Continue reading

A view of one of the potential locations of the new Aquasox stadium on Monday, Feb. 26, 2024 in Everett, Washington. The site sits between Hewitt Avenue, Broadway, Pacific Avenue and the railroad. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Initial prep work for AquaSox stadium to start, with $200k price tag

The temporary agreement allows some surveying and design work as the city negotiates contracts with designers and builders.

Aaron Kennedy / The Herald
The Joann Fabric and Crafts store at 7601 Evergreen Way, Everett, is one of three stores in Snohomish County that will close as part of the retailer’s larger plan to shutter more than half of its stores nationwide.
Joann store closure plan includes Everett, Arlington, Lynnwood locations

The retail giant filed a motion in court to close approximately 500 stores in the U.S.

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.