190 French Troops Arrive in Kyrgyzstan to Help With Base
BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan — A first contingent of 190 French troops arrived in Kyrgyzstan on Saturday, joining an advance U.S. team to help set up a base that will house thousands of coalition troops waging war in Afghanistan.
The U.S. and French troops are stationed at Manas air base 22 miles from Bishkek, the capital. Kyrgyzstan is one of three former Soviet republics in Central Asia that allowed in Western troops after the Sept. 11 attacks on the U.S.
French air force spokesman Col. Saster Kochanowski said in Bishkek that the first 190 French troops included doctors, cooks, engineers and other support staff. He said 200 more French troops would arrive by the end of February with six Mirage fighter planes.
Two hundred Americans arrived in December to begin building the base, which will eventually house 3,000 mainly U.S. troops.
Russia, which considers the former Soviet states in Central Asia as its own backyard, has so far not objected to the deployment of the Western troops. But many Russians wonder why the U.S.-led coalition is building new bases in the region nearly two months after the Taliban was routed from Afghanistan.
“The situation in Afghanistan is very tense. All bastions of resistance must be wiped out; therefore, we will have warplanes,” Kochanowski said.
Sign up for Essential California
The most important California stories and recommendations in your inbox every morning.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
