Uzbek President meets Rumsfeld

TASHKENT, NOV. 4. The Uzbekistan President, Mr. Islam Karimov, today discussed with the U.S. Defence Secretary, Mr. Donald Rumsfeld, the situation in Afghanistan in the wake of the U.S. war against terrorism.

Mr. Rumsfeld arrived here from Dushanbe. The trip to Uzbekistan is part of a whirlwind four-day tour of five countries which have offered support to U.S. military operations in Afghanistan.

He stayed at the Presidential residence, Oksaroi, for more than an hour before leaving for Pakistan. He will visit India later in the day.

Uzbekistan has offered one airbase to the U.S. for search and rescue and humanitarian operations and at least 1,000 troops are thought to be based there.

Mr. Rumsfeld said today that the U.S.-led anti- terrorist campaign was showing ``measurable progress.'' He spoke to reporters after meeting with leaders in Uzbekistan.

``The effort to deal with the problem of terrorist networks is proceeding. It is proceeding at a pace that is showing measurable progress,'' he added.

Mr. Rumsfeld said he reached no deals on military cooperation with Tajikistan. He added, however, that the sides would form an ``assessment team'' to look into ways in which Tajikistan - currently allowing flights carrying U.S. aid across its airspace - could assist in the military campaign in Afghanistan.

The Tajik Foreign Minister, Mr. Talbak Nazarov, said assistance could be expanded to allow overflights of military planes or the use of Tajikistan's air fields.

- UNI, PTI

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