The United States and Kazakhstan signed here Friday an air transit agreement, enabling quicker personnel and equipment transports to U.S. and NATO forces in Afghanistan.

"By providing access to new transit routes, Kazakhstan is providing valuable support to the international effort to defeat the violent extremism in Afghanistan and to ensure Afghanistan's and the region's security," the two countries said in a joint statement.

It said that through Kazakhstan's air transit route, less time will be needed to move in personnel and equipment as well as needed supplies in support of NATO-led forces and the government of Afghanistan.

"The agreement enhances a United States-Kazakhstan arrangement, under which the United States began transit flights to Afghanistan across Kazakhstan's airspace in 2001," the statement added.

Reports said that Russia is expected to allow NATO to take armored vehicles to Afghanistan through its territory under an expanded transit deal to be finalized at a Nov. 19-20 summit of the military alliance in Lisbon, Portugal.

The U.S. and NATO also use land transit routes in Pakistan to provide supplies to their troops in Afghanistan, which are more vulnerable to attacks by Taliban and other militants.