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CNN Live Saturday

Soviet Legacy Remains Prominent in Central Asia

Aired September 22, 2001 - 13:36   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: The Soviet Union, of course, is gone, and their troops retreated from Afghanistan. It has been more than a decade since that happened. Yet, the Soviet legacy in that region remains, and that may figure prominently in U.S. military plans.

Let's check in with CNN's Matthew Chance.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MATTHEW CHANCE, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Russian forces have bases and air strips here that could be crucial to possible U.S. military action in Afghanistan. This may not be Russian territory, but Russian troops still guard the border between Tajikistan and Afghanistan.

There are reports discussions are already under way to decide if and how territory in the Central Asian states can be used.

It's their proximity to northern Afghanistan that have focused the international spotlight on this remote corner of the world. Alone among these impoverished former Soviet Republics, Tajikistan still depends for its security on Russian troops, and has played a key role in helping supply forces of the anti-Taliban, Northern Alliance.

Turkmenistan has a long border with Afghanistan, but has been at pains to maintain neutrality when it comes to its turbulent neighbor. It's not expected to play a role.

Uzbekistan, though, sees itself as an emerging regional power, and with its own concerns about Islamic fundamentalism has hinted it will consider a U.S. presence.

But there are still reservations in Moscow. There is Russian support for U.S. action against suspected terrorist bases, but that may not extend to opening this area of immense strategic importance to the U.S. and NATO troops. The Russian military maintains highly sensitive bases here, and is apprehensive about any U.S. presence.

PAVEL FELGENHAUR, RUSSIAN MILITARY ANALYST: Well, the Russians are afraid -- one thing, they're afraid that Americans will come in, make attack on the Supeers (ph), and Russia will have to right the Tarabs (ph) the same time when it is fighting the Chechens and not actually succeeding. And the second fear is that the Americans will actually stay and flush Russia out. CHANCE: It will be Vladimir Putin, the Russian president, who has the final say, but even if he agrees, analysts say Central Asia still poses great obstacles as a launch pad into Afghanistan.

FELGENHAUR: Right now, there is no infrastructure that's actually compatible with American or NATO. And without actually solving a nightmarish logistical problem, you can't turn these two countries -- Uzbekistan and Tajikistan -- into truly effective American bases in the region. And, of course, they are landlocked, and there is no sea, and you have to go through Russian railroads.

CHANCE: Still, there are facilities in the region, like air strips, that could prove useful to the United States. And for the moment, Central Asia remains an option as Washington decides when and how it will strike.

Matthew Chance, CNN, Moscow.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

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