前往阿富汗的军用客机人满为患_高清图集--28 March 2012

U.S. troops sit tightly beside one another in a packed aircraft as they await their departure to Afghanistan, in stunning pictures taken today.

The servicemen sit aboard the military plane at the U.S. Transit Centre in Manas, 30 km outside Kyrgyzstan's capital Bishkek.

The onward movement of personnel to and from Afghanistan is one of the four mission pillars of the centre that is used as a transit hub for about 15,000 troops, planes and 500 tons of cargo a month. The other three are airlift, aerial refueling and humanitarian assistance. 

Tight: US servicemen inside a military plane before their departure to Afghanistan from the US transit center in Manas, 30 km outside Kyrgyzstan's capital Bishkek, on March 27, 2012

Natural: The servicemen talk to one another and stare up at the cameras before their departure to Afghanistan

Joking: The men pull funny faces as they await their deployment in Afghanistan where dozens of Americans are killed each month

Waiting: The onward movement of personnel to and from Afghanistan is one of the four mission pillars of the U.S. Transit Centre

Close-up: Dozens of U.S. servicemen interact with each other while holding their rifles and belongings

Thumbs up: Some soldiers listen intently to the in-flight announcements while others continue talking to one another

The Manas Air Base is a critical American military installation in the impoverished and strategically important nation in Central Asia. The sprawling base boasts recreational facilities for the troops, including gymnasiums and internet cafes.

The photographs depict the men laughing and joking with one another before their deployment in Afghanistan, where dozens of U.S. servicemen die each month.

A planned withdrawal of US and coalition forces by the end of 2014 hinges on building up Afghan army and police, but the surge in 'fratricidal' attacks threatens to undermine that strategy, with strained relations between NATO troops and Afghan forces marked by distrust and cultural clashes.

In a recent CBS News-New York Times poll, 69 per cent of respondents said they did not think the U.S. should be at war in Afghanistan, while 29 per cent said America is 'doing the right thing' by continuing the conflict.

Preparation: U.S. servicemen board a transport plane before leaving for Afghanistan at the U.S. transit center at Manas airport near Bishkek, March 27, 2012

Line up: The men enter the aircraft in single file before their flight to Afghanistan

Walking: A planned withdrawal of US and coalition forces by the end of 2014 hinges on building up Afghan army and police, but the surge in 'fratricidal' attacks threatens to undermine that strategy, with strained relations between NATO troops and Afghan forces marked by distrust and cultural clashes

Getting ready: US servicemen pack their gear near a plane before their departure to Afghanistan

US servicemen perform their daily routines on the runway at the US Transit Center in Manas, 30 km outside the Kyrgyzstan's capital Bishkek, on March 27, 2012

Survey: A recent poll revealed that 69 per cent of respondents said they did not think the U.S. should be at war in Afghanistan, while 29 per cent said America is 'doing the right thing' by continuing the conflict