Afghanistan's neighbours wary as US seeks nearby staging area

As high-level US diplomats head to a close-by spot to respond to any resurgence of outside militants in Afghanistan, they're meeting with more doubts from Afghanistan's neighbours about any such security partnering with the United States.

American diplomats are escalating a charm offensive with Central Asian leaders this week as they work to secure a close-by spot to respond to any resurgence of outside militants in Afghanistan after the US military withdraws. But even as high-level US diplomats head to the region, they're meeting with more doubts from Afghanistan's neighbours about any such security partnering with the United States. That stands in contrast to 2001, when Central Asian countries made available their territory for US bases, troops and other access as America hit back for the 9/11 attacks plotted by al-Qaida in Afghanistan.