Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06TASHKENT703
2006-04-11 10:55:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Tashkent
Cable title:  

LOCAL RESIDENTS SING THE K2 BLUES

Tags:  PREL PGOV ECON PHUM UZ 
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FM AMEMBASSY TASHKENT
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 5518
INFO RUEHTA/AMEMBASSY ALMATY PRIORITY 7788
RUEHAH/AMEMBASSY ASHGABAT PRIORITY 1882
RUEHEK/AMEMBASSY BISHKEK PRIORITY 2408
RUEHDBU/AMEMBASSY DUSHANBE PRIORITY 2306
RUEHBUL/AMEMBASSY KABUL PRIORITY 1400
RHMFISS/HQ USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL PRIORITY
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHDC PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L TASHKENT 000703 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/11/2016
TAGS: PREL PGOV ECON PHUM UZ
SUBJECT: LOCAL RESIDENTS SING THE K2 BLUES

Classified By: Amb. Jon R. Purnell for reasons 1.4 (b,d).

C O N F I D E N T I A L TASHKENT 000703

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/11/2016
TAGS: PREL PGOV ECON PHUM UZ
SUBJECT: LOCAL RESIDENTS SING THE K2 BLUES

Classified By: Amb. Jon R. Purnell for reasons 1.4 (b,d).


1. (C) Summary: The forced departure of the U.S. military
from the Karshi-Khanabad (K2) airbase immediately affected
hundreds of local area workers who depended on the generous
wages. According to the head Imam of Kashkadaryo Province,
the loss of jobs and humanitarian support has impacted the
citizens of Khanabad the most. Many of the educated workers
with strong English skills from Karshi and other large cities
have moved on to U.S. bases in Afghanistan or to Tashkent for
employment.


2. (C) In a recent discussion with poloff, Karshi Imam
Ismoil Raihonov stated that the departure of U.S. forces from
Uzbekistan affected the citizens of Khanabad, the small
village adjacent to the base, far greater than anyone else.
Before the Americans arrived, unemployment was widespread and
the infrastructure was decrepit throughout the village. For
more than ten years, the village had relied on trucks to
bring fresh drinking water several times a day until the U.S.
Army donated funds to purchase equipment and renovate a water
pumping station. With talks of repaving the main streets and
renovating the elementary school, residents of Khanabad had
high hopes for continued relations with the Americans
stationed at K2. Additionally, hundreds of residents were
employed as laborers on the base providing a number of
services in support of the American soldiers. It was
estimated that each worker supported an extended family with
salaries two or three times the norm. At present, the Imam
said, villagers face the daunting task of pleading for
government support to improve living conditions in the area,
and unemployment has resurfaced as one of the largest social
problems plaguing the small village. He noted that the fence
that surrounded Khanabad, erected by the Uzbek military as an
additional layer of security for the base, was removed after
the Americans pulled out.


3. (C) Other contacts have told poloff that skilled
employees, such as interpreters, mechanics, and cafeteria and
laundry workers have found employment in Afghanistan and, to
a lesser extent, in Tashkent. Many were hired by American,
Turkish, and German companies. While some are allowed to
live on the U.S. bases down in Afghanistan, others must
accept additional risks and live in towns nearby. One such
base employee said that on top of dealing with the dangers of
living in Afghanistan, "everyone would prefer to be working
closer to their families, but we have no other choice" as the
job market in Uzbekistan continues to dry up. There has been
anecdotal evidence of laborers traveling to Afghanistan in
search of work, but it is unclear just how many have been
willing to work in the hazardous environment.


4. (C) Comment: It is unclear whether the former employees
of K2 are aware of the political wrangling that led to the
eviction of U.S. forces from the base. What is clear,
however, is that just as their presence provided a
significant boost to the local economy, the departure of
American soldiers has left area residents back in the same
desperate situation as their provincial neighbors. Post
continues to see a trend of labor migration out of Uzbekistan
but we have scant information about the numbers moving south
into Afghanistan.
PURNELL