VZCZCXRO9220
PP RUEHDBU
DE RUEHNT #0703 1011055
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 111055Z APR 06
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). 
 
 ¶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