Panetta seeks to boost support for Kyrgyzstan base

He stressed that America needs the continued use of the U.S. air base there beyond the end of its contract in 2014, largely as a transit center to bring troops home from Afghanistan.A senior U.S. official traveling with Panetta to Kyrgyzstan said the U.S. believes there may be some wiggle room for additional negotiations for a longer term contract.The official said the defense chief on Tuesday will underscore the importance of the transit center for both countries, for regional security as well as the possible transition to a lucrative commercial hub in the future. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitive nature of the discussions.On Tuesday evening, Panetta met with Taalaybek Omuraliev, Kyrgyzstans defense minister, and Busurmankul Tabaldiev, the secretary of the Defense Council.During the early part of the meeting, Tabaldiev, a civilian, told Panetta that while Kyrgyzstan has shown readiness to support the U.S. and transit center after 2014, he said that after 2014 there should be no military mission. He said the airport was a civilian, commercial enterprise. His comments echo those of the new president.Pakistan shut down its ground supply routes after U.S. airstrikes in November killed a number of Pakistani troops. --AP