Kyrgyzstan said today that its decision to close a US air base that is critical to US and NATO operations in Afghanistan is final.
"The fate of the air base has been sealed; there is no doubt the bill to revoke the basing agreement will be ratified," said Kyrgyz National Security Council chief Adakhan Madumarov.
This deals a major blow to the United States even as top officials in the new US administration prepare the American public for more casualties in Afghanistan in the months ahead. Earlier, US officials said no closing agreement was final.
Kyrgyzstan borders Afghanistan to the north. Military supply routes from eastern neighbor Pakistan are reported to be under increased pressure from terrorist elements in that country's anarchy-ridden Khyber Pass region.
Kyrgyzstan’s president made the base closing announcement - which apparently shocked US leaders despite Russian media reporting that it would come to pass - earlier this week at a ceremony in Moscow. During the same ceremony, Kyrgyzstan accepted over $2 billion in Russian aid.
Meanwhile, just hours ago, Russia said that it will allow non-military NATO supplies on their way to Afghanistan to travel through its territory.
Video of the Russian-Kyrgyz agreement earlier this week:
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