“Central Asia’s economic growth and democratic political development can produce a more durable stability and more reliable partners for the United States in addressing common yet critical global challenges, from non-proliferation to counter-narcotics to energy security”, he said.

The massive energy resources of Central Asia are important for the world economy, ensuring a diversity of sources and transit routes, while also delivering new economic possibilities in the region itself, he added.

“Central Asia plays a vital role in our Afghanistan strategy. Just look at a map of the region. Three of the five Central Asian states border Afghanistan. A stable future for Afghanistan depends on the continued assistance of its Central Asian neighbors•-- just as a stable, prosperous future for the Central Asian states depends on bringing peace, stability and prosperity back to their immediate neighbor Afghanistan”, US diplomat underlined.

Krol said: “The countries of Central Asia are already contributing much to international efforts in Afghanistan. For example, Uzbekistan is supplying much-needed electricity to Kabul. The Transit Center at Manas International Airport in Kyrgyzstan is a crucial logistical hub for transporting personnel and for re-fueling operations. Turkmenistan provides humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan. Tajikistan provides overflight clearance. Kazakhstan provides humanitarian assistance, and it has just announced a new US$50 million program to educate Afghan students in Kazakstani universities.”

And the Northern Distribution Network is becoming a vital route for getting supplies into Afghanistan for coalition forces, he added.