The United States was still in talks with Kyrgyzstan about retaining use of its Manas air base, the Pentagon said Thursday, adding that it made no sense for Russia to try to undermine efforts to stabilize Afghanistan, it was reported today. “This is something that the U.S. government continues to discuss with Kyrgyzstan officials,” Pentagon spokesman Bryan Whitman said. “We're still very much engaged on this issue.” Whitman's remarks to reporters followed Kyrgyz President Kurmanbek Bakiyev's announcement this week that the Manas air base would be closed after Kyrgyzstan received financial aid from Russia. The Central Asian country's parliament will vote next week on whether to close the base.
