Military Power

The Manas airbase near the capital Bishkek serves as an important supply route for US and Nato operations in Afghanistan.

Kyrgyzstan was chosen because it offered coalition forces unrestricted overflight rights for aircraft flying combat, humanitarian and search-and-rescue missions.

Since the US were ordered out of Karshi-Khanabad in Uzbekistan, following a dispute with the Uzbek government over human rights in 2005, Manas has been the only American airbase in Central Asia.

Those bound for Afghanistan arrive in huge transport planes and, after a day or two on the base, get ferried to their posts in smaller aircraft, which are less easy targets for militants.

The base is also home to the large tanker aircraft that are used for in-air refuelling of fighter planes on combat missions over Afghanistan, and it acts as a funnel for anything the troops could need: from medical supplies, food and uniforms, to building materials.

Source

So, what do you guys think about this setback? How much will it affect the efforts in Afghanistan?

CrazyCatman wrote:So, what do you guys think about this setback?

Well, there doesn't seem to be a real good option. The route through Pakistan seems to be the best, but it has to come by ship (which is much slower) and the convoys are falling under attack more and more. I guess we could see if Iran would let us in, but I don't think that would go over well.

Washington has already gained permission from Kazakhstan and Russia to ship 'non-lethal' supplies for Afghanistan through these countries by rail, while similar agreement is being sought with Tajikistan and Uzbekistan, both of which border Afghanistan.

Although an eviction notice has effectively been served, US officials still do not see the matter as closed and Pentagon spokesman Bryan Whitman stated on February 20 that discussions would continue with Kyrgystan about the possibility of remaining at the base.

US Defense Secretary Robert M Gates has said that the base is not irreplaceable and that the US will seek alternative supply routes. Consideration will be given to offering an increase in loan repayments to maintain the presence at Manas, although US officials say that this will not be 'at any price'.

Update

A new deal has been struck at the last minute over the continued use of the US air base at Manas, Kyrgystan. The new agreement was signed between the two countries on June 22 and covers use of the base only as a centre for transit on non-lethal goods into Afghanistan. The Kyrgz Goivernment had voted in February in favour of closing the base which has supported US operations in Afghanistan, including housing USAF KC-135R tankers.

As recently as June 15, the outgoing base commander, Colonel Christopher Bence, speaking at a change-of-command ceremony, dismissed suggestions that the closure could be reversed. He said “we have started shipping equipment and supplies to other locations and that US forces would leave on August 18 as the Kyrgz Government has asked us.”

These comments were obviously a little premature, although it appears that under the new agreement, operations will be much reduced.

(Air Forces Monthly – August 2009)