DUSHANBE, July 31 2014, Asia-Plus – On Thursday July 31, Tajik President Emomali Rahmon received visiting commander of the United States Central Command (CENTCOM), Lloyd James Austin III.
According to the Tajik president’s official website, the sides discussed issues related to bilateral cooperation between Tajikistan and the United States in the fields of security and defense as well as in providing regional security.
President Rahmon reportedly noted that Tajikistan considered that cooperation with the United States in the field of security was an important aspect of supporting and strengthening peace and stability in the region. He stressed that cooperation between Tajikistan and the United States in addressing global threats and challenges was fruitful.
Gen Austin, for his part, appreciated Tajikistan’s support for efforts to establish peace and stability in Afghanistan and reconstruct Afghanistan’s economy.
Rahmon and Austin also discussed the situation that is likely to emerge in Afghanistan after the withdrawal of the coalition forces from that country.
They also exchanged views on participation of the United States in and its support for regional economic and communication projects aimed at promoting expansion of cooperation between Central Asia and South Asia and expansion of economic and transit opportunities of Afghanistan, the source said.
The sides reportedly also discussed a number of regional and international issues being of mutual interest.
Lloyd James Austin III, 61, is a United States Army general. He is the 12th and current commander of United States Central Command (CENTCOM). Prior to current assignment, General Austin served as the 33rd Vice Chief of Staff of the United States Army from January 31, 2012 to March 8, 2013. His previous assignment was as the last Commanding General of United States Forces – Iraq, Operation New Dawn, which lasted until December 15, 2011. On December 6, 2012, the Pentagon announced that President Obama will nominate General Austin to lead the U.S. Central Command. Austin was confirmed by the U. S. Senate on March 5, 2013, and assumed command on March 22, 2013.
CENTCOM is one of nine unified commands in the United States military. Six of these commands, including CENTCOM, have an area of responsibility (AOR), which is a specific geographic region of the world where the combatant commanders may plan and conduct operations as defined under the Unified Command Plan. Located between the European and Pacific combatant commands, U.S. Central Command’s area of responsibility covers the “central” area of the globe and consists of 20 countries — Afghanistan, Bahrain, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lebanon, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, United Arab Emirates, Uzbekistan, and Yemen.
With national and international partners, U.S. Central Command promotes cooperation among nations, responds to crises, and deters or defeats state and non-state aggression, and supports development and, when necessary, reconstruction in order to establish the conditions for regional security, stability, and prosperity.
