Tashkent: British Defence Secretary Philip Hammond is holding a series of meetings with senior figures of the Uzbekistan Government, media reports on Wednesday.
According to the reports, discussions will focus on starting talks for a land transit agreement to open up a northern supply route to get military equipment out of Afghanistan as Britain prepares to end combat operations by the end of 2014.
The Defence Secretary and the Armed Forces Minister Nick Harvey are visiting five central Asian countries to boost Britain’s relationship with key countries in the region and promote international co-operation on Afghanistan.
The Armed Forces Minister will follow this up with visits this week to Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan.
 British Defence Secretary Philip Hammond would hold talks with the governments of Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan this week to secure supply lines for getting equipment home from Afghanistan when combat operations finish there.
Mr Hammond held meetings yesterday in Kazakhstan, where he signed an agreement which will allow overflight access to assist in transporting military equipment to and from Afghanistan. Mr Hammond and Kazakhstan’s President Nazarbayev also agreed to start negotiations for a land transit agreement.
This engagement with governments in the region is an essential part of the UK’s security interests in helping to secure the long-term stability of Afghanistan, which borders three of the central Asian states.
The UK’s defence relationship with these countries also includes offering places on training courses, such as at the Royal College of Defence Studies, and English language training.
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