Hosting US military bases a hot potato for Afghanistan's neighbors

With the pullout of US troops from Afghanistan, Pentagon officials are making last-minute efforts to pursue basing options with Afghanistan's neighbors for future operations. Washington continues to focus on Pakistan for establishing a military base in the region, despite the fact that some American officials believe the negotiations have reached an impasse for now, The New York Times reported on Monday.

"While we have no basing agreements to announce, we know that Afghanistan's neighbors share our desire to counter the scourge of global terrorism," a Defense Department spokesman was quoted as saying by ANI/Sputnik on Monday. Washington will continue to pursue options with partners and allies in the region, the spokesman said.