U.S. will not re-open military air base in Uzbekistan

Following a diplomatic disagreement in 2005 that forced the government of Uzbekistan to shutdown a key United States military air base, an American envoy said the US has no plans to re-open an air base in the Central Asian republic.

In May of 2005, Uzbekistan, which shares a border with Afghanistan, shutdown the Karshi-Khanabad air base after the United States condemned the government for cracking down on a protest in the town of Andizhan. On Sunday, Special Representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan Richard Holbrooke denied, after meeting with leaders in Uzbekistan, the possibility of the US re-opening an air base in the nation, according to Reuters India. Holbrooke has been on a tour of Central Asia. However, relations between the two nations have improved and led some to believe that possibility may occur, “No. But Uzbekistan does provide us with a valuable opportunity to transit materials to Afghanistan and that is important. (As for) the military base – no,” said Holbrooke. Press TV reports that Holbrooke added the US continues a transit hub at the Manas base in Kyrgyzstan. Last year, the Kyrgyzstan government shutdown the Manas military air base, which many observers believe was influenced by the Russian Federation. Holbrooke will be traveling to Georgia next after his visit to Kazakhstan, notes Xinhua.