United States Closes Its Operations at Karshi-Khanabad
2005-11-21
American operations at Karshi-Khanabad ended on 21 November 2005, four years after the air base began supporting the war in Afghanistan. Uzbekistan had withdrawn permission to use it and given the United States six months to leave. [1]
The rupture followed the violence in Andijan that May. Armed men attacked government buildings and freed prisoners, after which thousands gathered in the central square. Human Rights Watch found that government forces fired on civilians and killed hundreds. The Uzbek government described the events as an armed uprising and rejected an independent international inquiry. [2]
Washington supported calls for an investigation as human rights disputes and disagreements over payment for the base strained relations. In July, after refugees from Andijan were flown from Kyrgyzstan to Romania, Tashkent delivered its notice ending American use of K2. The withdrawal cost the United States an airlift and rescue base. [1] [2]
Related Diplomats
Sources
- Uzbekistan’s closure of Karshi-Khanabad — Congressional Research Service
Termination of the SOFA; 21 November 2005; emerging strains
- The Andijan Massacre: One Year Later — Human Rights Watch
Events of 12–13 May; independent investigation; refugees
- Abdulaziz Kamilov — biographical / appointment record
Related Reading
Cite This Article
United States Closes Its Operations at Karshi-Khanabad. Chanceries Diplopedia. Record b677c3a277dbaf428a0b. https://chanceries.org/research/history/uzbekistan-k2-e2d1d06a18/