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C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 TASHKENT 000262 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPARTMENT FOR EUR/CACEN, SA, AND INL 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/01/2016 
TAGS: PREL ECON AF UZ
SUBJECT: LITTLE FRIENDSHIP ON BRIDGE BETWEEN UZBEKISTAN AND 
AFGHANISTAN 
 
REF: 05 TASHKENT 233 
 
Classified by Amb. Jon R. Purnell for reasons 1.4 (b, d). 
 
¶1. (C) Summary: The GOU and UN claim that the Friendship 
Bridge border crossing between Uzbekistan and Afghanistan is 
very active.  Recent visits to the bridge show that the 
border crossing there is in significantly better condition 
than other border posts in Uzbekistan.  However, Emboffs 
have observed little traffic crossing the border, calling 
into question GOU claims that it is actively contributing to 
stabilization efforts in Afghanistan.  Infrastructure 
upgrades have made Friendship Bridge one of the most modern 
border crossings in the region.  Given how little this 
crossing is actually used, Post believes we should consider 
directing future border assistance to other locations.  End 
summary. 
 
¶2. (U) Poloff, DATT, and Air Attache visited the Friendship 
Bridge border crossing between Uzbekistan and Afghanistan on 
January 19.  The bridge links the Uzbek city of Termez with 
Hairaton in Afghanistan, and was built by the Soviet Army to 
supply its troops during the war in Afghanistan.  It is the 
only vehicle-crossing on the Uzbek-Afghan border, although 
there is a nearby port for barges that can be used to move 
equipment too large for the bridge. 
 
---------------- 
Little Activity 
---------------- 
 
¶3. (C) GOU and UN officials have told Emboffs that the 
bridge remains an active border crossing.  First Deputy 
Foreign Minister Nematov claimed to visiting CENTCOM J5 that 
90 percent of the humanitarian aid entering Afghanistan by 
land goes over the Friendship Bridge.  Border guard and 
customs officials at the bridge told emboffs that at least 
one train crosses the bridge every day and that there are 
times when a large number of trucks are lined up on the road 
waiting for permission to cross.  (Comment: This may have 
been the case when traffic from the U.S. airbase at Karshi- 
Kanabad was utilizing the land route into Afghanistan to 
supply troops and send humanitarian aid.  In fact, the line 
of trucks at the border, likely resulted from Uzbek customs 
delays.  End comment.)  However, different customs officials 
independently told poloff that on average only five trucks 
and approximately 25 other vehicles cross the bridge a day. 
Most of the current traffic, to include rail shipments, 
consists of commercial cargo transiting through Uzbekistan 
from Turkey, Russia and other CIS countries. 
 
¶4. (C) On January 19, Emboffs observed very little traffic 
at Friendship Bridge.  Two trucks were sitting in a holding 
area at the point of entry awaiting clearance to continue 
into Uzbekistan, and a third was waiting for permission to 
enter Afghanistan.  The only vehicular traffic observed was 
an Afghan diplomat crossing into Uzbekistan, although 
several people arrived on foot during Emboffs' visit. 
(Note:  Afghan diplomats have told emboffs on several 
occasions, that even they must notify the MFA in advance to 
get permission to cross the Friendship Bridge.  End note.) 
An empty train, which according to border guards had carried 
humanitarian supplies to Hairaton, was seen returning to 
Termez.  (Comment: Border Guard officials said that the 
bridge is open to non-diplomatic traffic only between 0900 
and 1800 hours.  Emboffs visited the bridge at 0920 hours, 
which might account for the lack of activity at the border 
post.  However, other USG officials, including a DTRA team 
that visited Termez the week of January 23, also noted a 
similar lack of activity.) 
 
---------------------------- 
Border Crossing A Cut Above 
---------------------------- 
 
¶5. (SBU) United Nations Office for Drug Control and Crime 
(UNODC) has been working to improve the Friendship Bridge 
border crossing since the Bridge was "reopened" in 2001. 
(Note: The majority of the funding for the UNODC project was 
provided by INL, although other donors, such as the United 
Kingdom, have also contributed.  End note.)  Border Guard 
and Customs personnel provided emboffs a tour of the 
checkpoint, which included a walkthrough of UNODC-provided 
facility upgrades.  All of the equipment, including the 
 
TASHKENT 00000262  002 OF 002 
 
 
video surveillance system, appeared to be operational, and 
personnel at the checkpoint appeared to be well trained, 
alert, and competent.  However, since no non-diplomatic 
vehicles crossed the bridge during the visit, Emboffs did 
not observe the equipment being used. 
 
--------------------------------- 
Comment: With Friends Like These 
--------------------------------- 
 
¶6. (C) The Uzbeks have talked a good game about engaging 
with Afghanistan and contributing to stabilization efforts 
there.  The apparent lack of traffic over the Friendship 
Bridge calls this commitment into question, and 
import/export statistics for the first half of 2005 (reftel) 
suggest that what little interaction occurs is in one 
direction only.  According to the GOU the Bridge is open for 
business.  It seems, however, that the Uzbeks definition of 
"open" differs from ours.  Clearly, the government continues 
to closely monitor and restrict all traffic that comes 
through and the word on the street seems be that without 
connections you will not be allowed to cross. 
Infrastructure upgrades already completed likely make this 
one of the most modern border crossings in the region. 
Given how little this crossing is actually used, Post 
believes we should consider directing further border 
assistance elsewhere. 
 
PURNELL