US Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld paid a brief visit to Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan in the past days, making efforts to seek long-term military existence in Central Asia -- its strategic goal.  

Since the war in Afghanistan began in 2001, the US troops and those from several of its allies have been deployed at air bases in Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan.

Earlier this month, the member states of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) called on the US-led anti-terror coalition to set a timetable for its withdrawal of troops and the temporary use of infrastructure in the Central Asian countries.

On July 17, Kurmanbek Bakiyev, Kyrgyzstan's newly elected president, said that with the appeasement of the situation in Afghanistan, it is the time for the US to schedule its pullout of forces from the base in his country.

As early as May, Uzbekistan's government took a tough stance on the issue of US military presence in the country, imposing limits on takeoff and landing of US planes.

Then in early July, the Uzbek Foreign Ministry issued a statement, saying that the government would reconsider the issue of US military presence in the Uzbek Karshi-Khanabad Air Base -- having been used as a staging point for operations in Afghanistan since 2001.

Meanwhile, Tajik Foreign Minister Talbak Nazarov said that it had become unnecessary for troops of the US and its allies to stay any longer in Central Asia.

In response to the situations, the US Congress urged the Bush administration to start dialogues immediately with the Central Asian countries.

After Rumsfeld's three-day visit to the region, pressure for US military pullout has been eased.

After talks with Rumsfeld, Bakiyev said Tuesday that the situation in Afghanistan was still not stable, and therefore Kyrgyzstan would continue to support the US' efforts to fight terrorism.

He added that the timetable of the US military presence in his country would be decided in accordance with the development of situation in Afghanistan and within the framework of Kyrgyz-US relations.

At a press conference following Rumsfeld's visit, Nazarov said that Tajikistan would go on supporting the anti-terror alliance.

In fact, to fight terrorism is not the only goal of the US to station troops in Central Asia.

After the SCO made a call on US troops to withdraw, General Richard Myers, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, made it clear that the importance of Central Asia "was embodied in several ways, not only in the war against terrorism."

Analysts said Central Asia plays a key role in the global strategy of the US in the 21st century.

The US military existence in the region will contain and impair the influence of Russia, and also help the US to handle relations with Iran.

In addition, economy is also a factor in the issue as the region boasts very rich oil and natural gas resources.

In view of the political, economic and military importance of Central Asia, the US will try its best to consolidate its military existence in the region.

(Xinhua News Agency July 29, 2005)