WASHINGTON - The Central Asian nation of Uzbekistan has ended its agreement allowing U.S. military aircraft and personnel to use an air base that has been an important hub for American military operations in Afghanistan, administration officials said Saturday.No reason Uzbekistan was evicting U.S. forces from Karshi-Khanabad air base, commonly referred to as K2, was offered by either the State Department or the Defense Department. The Washington Post, which first reported the eviction notice, said no reason was given by Uzbekistan and that U.S. forces would have six months to leave.The New York Times reported Saturday on its Web site that a State Department official cited the abrupt action as a response to a secret United Nations operation to take hundreds of Uzbek refugees from the region. The official said most of the 450 refugees who had fled to Kyrgyzstan after an Uzbek uprising in May had been airlifted to Romania and other countries on Friday despite the Uzbek government’s desire that they be returned.
The U.S. Embassy in the Uzbek capital of Tashkent received the diplomatic note terminating the agreement late last week, State Department spokeswoman Nancy Beck said. A Pentagon spokesman, Glenn Flood, said the notice was received Friday.“This is a bilateral agreement between two sovereign nations, and under that agreement either side has the option to terminate that agreement,” Beck said. The State Department had no further comment, she said.The Uzbek government in recent months had tightened restriction on use of the base, including banning night flights.“We have to step back and look at our options now and see where we go from here,” Flood said. “That airfield has been very important for our operations in Afghanistan” — humanitarian as well as military.K2 has been a critical staging point for U.S. military operations in Afghanistan since the earliest days of the war, which began in October 2001.
More recently, the base has been used to move supplies, including humanitarian aid, into northern Afghanistan. It also is a refueling point for transport planes.The eviction notice came just days after Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld returned from a Central Asia visit to two Uzbek neighboring states, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan. Officials in Kyrgyzstan affirmed to Rumsfeld that U.S. forces can continue to use Manas air base for as long as the Afghan war requires.U.S. forces do not use any bases in Tajikistan, which shares a long border with northern Afghanistan. The Pentagon has an arrangement that permits U.S. planes to refuel there under certain circumstances.During his trip, Rumsfeld said he did not believe U.S. operations in Afghanistan would be hurt if the Uzbek government denied continued use of K2 because there are other air base options in the region.
“We’re always thinking ahead. We’ll be fine,” Rumsfeld said on Monday.In early July, a regional organization led by Russia and China issued a statement calling for the U.S. to set a timetable for withdrawing its forces from Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan.Uzbekistan’s ties with Washington have deteriorated after the Bush administration joined other Western nations in urging an international investigation into the suppression of a May uprising in the eastern Uzbek city of Andijan.Uzbek government troops fired on protesters in the city after militants seized a prison and a government building. Authorities denied that troops fired on unarmed civilians and said that 187 people died in the unrest; human rights groups put the figure as high as 750.Uzbekistan’s president, Islam Karimov, who has ruled for 16 years and tolerates no dissent, has blamed the violence on Islamic militants.He has rejected the demands for an outside inquiry, and, facing Western criticism, has found a strong support in Russia and China. Both of them are wary about the U.S. military presence in the strategic and resource-rich region.
This proves again that Pakistan is the only reliable partner of US in the West and South Asia. Uzbeks are too small a nation to withstand pressure from Kremlin. I mean the country is only 25 million that is same as Karachi and Lahore combine.
US will rely more on the airforce bases in Pakistan now. That will sure strengthen the relationaship between the two countries.
No it means the Uzbek’s have balls and we do not. If i remember correctly the US is using 5 bases within Pakistan. Wow! What a way to gaurantee our national soverignty
Hmm! Uzbek balls have always been in Kremlin’s tight fist since 1924. No comments on your statement about your own situaiton as “…balls and we do not”.
OTOH Pakistan’s national security is beyond the scope of this thread. I’d say in brief, that our national security is linked with our economy. Trade and strategic relatoins with US can produce enough funds and the resources to keep our economy going.
They have left, take my word for it. Most of them left in 2002, and the last few that remained ( in Jacobabad) departed at the end of 2004. Unless you can provide any news articles that they are still there?
Pakistan’s top exports are going to US (more than 20%).
Pakistan gets direct aid of hundreds of $$ millions from … you guessed it “USA”. The same USA provides loan guarantees worth billions of dollars to … you guessed it “Pakistan”.
Off course these facts are not taught in the Mad-house-Russahs by the followers of Sipah Suhaba and Jesh Muhammad.
Wow! so they are performing surgical procedures in US embassy of Islamabad? Didn’t know about it.
Baba Maaf karo! if this is the pre-condition to meet the Laila, then Bee Billi, Chooha landora hi Bhalah (sorry guys translation will ruin the pun intended).
Anyway getting accused for Green card by the residents of Luton Aloo stores is like pot calling kettle black.
Ignorance is a bliss in the Mad-house-Russahs run by Sipah Suhaba and Jesh Muhammad.
Firstly our top creditors are Japan at a national level. 5 billion dollars. Next are the WB, IMF, ADB et al. Our loans from the US are roughly 6th or 7th on the list. Please show me the list of these loans in billions of dollars and their status. Oh yeah restructuring loans at a higher interest rate is not to our benefit.
Ignorance is bliss. But brainwashing is the cherry on top of the cake.
This was in response to the U.S. demands that Uzbekistan have political and economic reforms and for calling for an international investigation of the protesters killed by Uzbekistan troops.
CM you’re the ignorant one. Pakistan’s relationship with the U.S. directly affects Pakistan’s relationship with every major International Financial Institution. You care to deny this CM? Look at what type of economic assistance Pakistan got pre 2001 alliance with the U.S. and then look at what assistance they got post 2001 alliance.
Lets see i post facts and i am ignorant. Now lets go over this historically. Pakistan was a pariah in 1998 correct? You want look up what IMF and WB loans we got from 1998 to 2001?
As for the pre and post 2001 scenerio. We got our debt rescheduled to a higher interest rate and were loaned more money. That really helps us! Secondly what is the nature of the US aid shall we discuss that?
Since 9/11; Pakistan has beaten GDP growth estimates every year (8+% last year, compare that to the 10 years prior to post 9/11 growth, was what it 2-3% per yr?), exports, despite what you say, have increased dramatically, FDI has gone up, and debt service has been slashed. Now you want to tell me that this would have occurred if Musharraf wouldn’t have aligned with the U.S. The deal did more than jumpstart Pakistan’s economy.
Ok you are just asking for an ass-whooping and you are getting it. Why did our exports increase? Simple. The EU for 3 years gave us a 12% tarrif rate on textiles in the EU-25 market. India had close to 27% and a quota limit. We didn't. It was part of their GSP scheme. Additionally we were given additional benefits under the GSP. We have never been part of the US GSP. We were specifically kept out of it. Thirdly exports have risen due to bumper crops and increase in military exports to developing countries. How did the US aid in increasing our exports?
GDP growth has been due to what? Domestic policies. Not US influence. Our growth was increasing before sept 11 happened. Thanks to a very able economics team. Our Gov. of state bank? Former world bank. Our Privitization Minister? World Bank. Finance Minister? Citibank VP (1 out of 12). How was this in any way related to US loans?
FDI has gone up, true. How much of it was from the US and how much was from China and the EU. Please tell me that.
Debt servicing has occured due to fiscal responsibility and increased exports to the EU markets. Our NAMA has increased in the EU markets. Not the US markets.
Unlike you my grasp of english is extremely good. We were discussing loans. You want me to define what loans are for you? Because they are in no way related t o GDP growth, exports or domestic policy.
The US has ear marked 3 billion dollars over 5 years for Pakistan since Sept 11th. Since then 50% have been used internally in the US govt to adjust our loan rescheduling. From what i figured out it was to make sure that the US does not lose out on interest rates. Out of the physical money we get from the 3 billion dollars only 500 million have been given to Pakistan.
The deal did nothing as we were part of the GSP scheme from before. NAMA for the EU was before Sept 11th. Now that we were graduated in Jan this year our exports to the EU have dropped in textiles as well as agriculture like rice.
So back to the loan situation. Shall we discuss that or would you like to bring unrelated items into the discussion again?
Baba! a simple vilager in Pakistan can tell that US help for Pak economy has been vital for the last 4 years. Nothing new this time around!
The same process has been repeated during Ayub and then Zia’s governments. Europeans follow US lead when they open up their markets. You can go on doing this MAToo munazra forever. EU and Japan are smaller players when it comes to decision making about Global economy. Don’t you get it?
Yadda yadda typical uneducated bull****. Show me the economic figures. Show me the data when it comes to Pakistan. Typical GS behaviour. The facts don't agree with their idiotic point of view so they whine.
You can’t bring this up and simply ignore why Pakistan received the discounted tariff. Pakistan received this tariff reduction via the drug scheme shortly after 9/11 to boost Musharraf in response to his decision to cooperation with the west.
While domestic polices have certainly played a major part in reviving Pakistan’s economy I find it amusing how you discount and ignored the economical benefits that Pakistan received for playing a key part in the United States ‘war on terror‘.
On a personal note, you often throw out uncreative child like insults, tell me if I’m wrong, but you don’t have many friends do you?
UTD lets make it simple. Why don't you tell me what physical benefits has Pakistan recieved? Because i have provided you with facts and figures. You have provided rhetoric. So show me the hard economic data that can be attributed to the US.
