TASHKENT. Aug 23 (Interfax-AVN) - The duration of the U.S. contingent's stay in Uzbekistan will depend on the situation in Afghanistan, General Tommy Franks, Commander-in-Chief, U.S. Central Command, said in Tashkent on Friday.
The stay of the anti-terrorist coalition's troops in Uzbekistan will fully depend on the progress in Operation Enduring Freedom, underway in Afghanistan, Franks said.
The U.S. general met with Uzbek President Islam Karimov. He said the meeting had been very fruitful and focused on the situation in Afghanistan and security issues.
Franks declined to comment on a possible large-scale reconstruction of the Khanabad military base, where the U.S. military are stationed. He said the United States had no plans to buy land in the Khanabad area.
The general said he would stay in Afghanistan for the next three days to visit the coalition troops and meet with President Hamid Karzai, Defense Minister Mohammad Fahim Khan and other members of the interim government.
Franks is making his fifth visit to Afghanistan. His first trip was made in May 2001 and three others after the beginning of the anti-terrorist operation in Afghanistan, namely in October 2001, November 2001 and January 2002.