US General Tight-Lipped on Specifics of US-Uzbek Military Cooperation

A US military delegation headed by Command Gen. Tommy Franks, commander in chief of the US Central Command, held talks with top Uzbek officials October 30, focusing on military cooperation connected with the US-led anti-terrorism campaign. Meeting afterwards with journalists, Franks declined to discuss specifics relating to the deployment of American forces in Uzbekistan. US military officials were enthusiastic about US-Uzbek military ties, saying that cooperation would continue for "the foreseeable future."

Franks, the officer responsible for running the ongoing campaign in Afghanistan, is on a tour to consult with key leaders in the anti-terrorism coalition. In Uzbekistan, Franks and Deputy Assistant Defense Secretary (for public affairs) Rear Admiral Craig Quigley held "wide-ranging and fruitful discussions" with President Islam Karimov, Defense Minister Kadir Gulyamov and Foreign Minister Abdulaziz Kamilov.

According to Quigley, who accompanied General Franks through his tour, "our military cooperation with Uzbekistan started before September 11th and it will not end for the foreseeable future, it is a very rich, good relationship that grows and improves all the time."

Franks said he briefed Karimov on military operations and on ongoing military-to-military contacts. Uzbek officials have been reticent in disclosing details about the extent of Tashkent's cooperation with Washington. [For background see the Eurasia Insight archives]. Some observers have speculated that Karimov received security assurances from the United States in return for granting US forces access to Uzbek military facilities. However, little has been confirmed beyond the Uzbek government's October 5th acknowledgement that the US military is using an air base at Khanabad for humanitarian relief deliveries and for search and rescue missions.

Franks refused to be drawn into a discussion about specifics relating to developing US-Uzbek strategic links. He pointed out that among the many nations involved in the anti-terrorism campaign, some have opted not to discuss it.

"Each of the nations involved in this counter-terrorism effort around the globe will certainly speak for themselves with respect to what they are providing," Franks said. The general also deflected questions about possible security guarantees given by the United States to Uzbekistan. "I don't think it's my place to do so [comment]," Franks said.

Franks was tight-lipped about the presence of American troops already in place in Uzbekistan and their objectives. He similarly would not speculate on whether the US mission in Uzbekistan would expand. "I believe that that [information about the American military presence] should remain the prerogative of the leadership of this country [Uzbekistan]."

Quigley said the United States would respect the Uzbek government's desire to maintain a low-profile approach to the anti-terrorism campaign. "We are going to be as sensitive to their internal needs as we can be. At the end of the day, it's about a position of support to achieve a common objective," he said.

According to some reports, Uzbek leaders are concerned that military cooperation could provoke a popular backlash among Islamic radicals, who are especially active in the Ferghana Valley. The government has battled to contain a three-year insurgent campaign waged by the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan, which has links to terrorism mastermind Osama bin Laden and the Taliban in Afghanistan.

Franks stressed that President Karimov had been forthcoming in providing support for the US campaign.

"Uzbekistan, in fact, all the countries in this region, and many countries across the world have committed themselves to an objective - which is to do away with this business of international terrorism," Franks said. "What we have found in the community of nations is, as I've said, is satisfying to us with respect to what we need to conduct this piece of our operation."