Although the Kyrgyz government adamantly denies it, it appears as though US forces will be staying at Manas air base outside Bishkek for at least another year.
Even if the United States emerges victorious in the battle for Manas air base in Kyrgyzstan, it still faces a big challenge in winning the war in Afghanistan. The only likelihood at present is that Russia, through its meddling in Central Asia, will pose a major obstacle to US and European Union efforts to defeat the Taliban insurgency.
Opened in December 2001, the Transit Center at Manas serves as the main US and NATO military staging base for troops entering and departing the conflict in Afghanistan. The US Air Force military installation shares the runway with Kyrgyzstan's Bishkek International Airport.
