MOSCOW, (BBC)-A senior United States diplomat, in Moscow for talks on strategic issues, has said Russia remains open about the launch of possible attacks on Afghanistan from former Soviet states. (Read photo caption below)

"I don't think they have ruled anything in or anything out," said US Undersecretary of State, John Bolton.Russia's Defence Minister, Sergei Ivanov, had said on Friday that the ex-Soviet states of Central Asia could not be used for an attack on Afghanistan.
However, on Monday Uzbekistan - one of three Central Asian states bordering Afghanistan - said it was ready to discuss all forms of co-operation in the battle against terrorism.
Missile defence
Mr Bolton was in the Russian capital for scheduled talks over missile defence, but his meetings were dominated by the question of co-operation against international terrorism.

Nonetheless he used the opportunity to restate the US case for the proposed shield.Bolton also said while missile defence would not have prevented this abomination, it does show that the United States faces severe threats from terrorism and from what he called rogue states.
But Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov said: "There is a single way - seeking answers to threats and challenges on a multilateral basis".
The Russians oppose any changes to existing arms control treaties.
Operations not discussed
Washington can count on diplomatic and moral support from Moscow.
The Russians, who also oppose the Americans' prime suspect, Osama Bin Laden, for his role in the Chechen conflict, have offered to share intelligence on Islamic extremist groups operating in Central Asia.

But Moscow has given mixed signals about its attitude to military intervention.President Putin has warned the United States to assess carefully the consequences of any such action, but intially signalled its assent to a tough US response.
On Monday Interior Minister Vladimir Rushailo, embarking on a tour of Central Asia, said: "Without doubt it is impossible not to respond to acts of international terrorism. But... all the negative consequences must be taken into account."
Mr Bolton said that he had not discussed operational matters in his talks.
"I think there will be extensive consultations to follow on operational questions. But those are not things we talked about today," he said.
PHOTO CAPTION:
Russian Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov, right, invites U.S. Undersecretary of State John Bolton to start their talks in Russian Foreign Ministry, Moscow, Monday, Sept. 17 , 2001. Bolton opened a new round of talks in Moscow Monday on the U.S. plans to deploy a missile defense system and Russia's cooperation in fighting terrorism. (AP Photo/Yuri Kochetkov, Pool)