US holds Afghan supply talks in Moscow

MOSCOW. February 12. KAZINFORM A senior American diplomat will hold talks with Russian officials on Tuesday about opening new supply routes across Russian territory to NATO forces in Afghanistan, the US embassy said.

The talks come less than a week after Kyrgyzstan announced it will close a US air base on its territory that provides logistical support by air to American troops fighting the Taliban in nearby Afghanistan. Russia has signaled readiness to expand cooperation in supplying non-military equipment to US forces and other NATO contingents in Afghanistan. Such shipments would also have to pass through Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan to reach the conflict zone; Kazinform cites Today's Zaman. Supply routes through Pakistan have become increasingly vulnerable to militant attacks over the last year. ?The deputy assistant secretary of state, Patrick Moon, who is responsible for Afghanistan, is in Moscow and he is going to be engaged in discussions with Russian officials on NATO-Russia transit arrangements,? a US embassy spokesman said. Russia does not have a formal agreement with NATO, but has agreed to allow transit non-military supplies, for example building materials, to Afghanistan. Moon?s talks will continue on Wednesday and will touch on other issues where the United States is seeking to enlist greater international assistance to support Kabul?s government against a resurgent Taliban.