Congressman: US needs counterterrorism partners in Central Asia

FILE - A U.S. Congressional delegation meets with Uzbek leader Shavkat Mirziyoyev, center, in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, March 27, 2024. (President.uz photo) Congressman Adam Smith, top Democrat on the U.S. House Armed Services Committee, talks with VOA's Navbahor Imamova, Washington, May 1, 2024. FILE - Families see off their sons to the army in Khorezm, Uzbekistan, March 5, 2024. For decades, the U.S. has trained Central Asian armed forces, spending millions to boost border security and provide military equipment. (Uzbekistan's Defense Ministry) FILE - Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev talks with Russian leader Vladimir Putin during the Eurasian Economic Union summit, Moscow, May, 8, 2024. (President.uz photo)

In a rare discussion of Central Asia policy on Capitol Hill, a senior legislator told VOA that the United States needs to look past the abysmal human rights records of the countries in the region to confront terrorism and Russian and Chinese influence.