'US, Uzbekistan Close To Afghan Transit Deal', Reuters India, 5 February 2009

EXCERPT: "The United States and Uzbekistan are close to a deal that would allow Washington to open a new supply route for its troops in Afghanistan, a Western diplomatic source in Kazakhstan said on Thursday. The United States is looking for alternative supply routes to Afghanistan to decrease reliance on a route through Pakistan where militants have stepped up attacks on truck convoys. Kyrgyzstan's parliament will vote next week on whether to shut a U.S. air base which is an important staging post for U.S. troops in Afghanistan. The move would set a tough challenge for U.S. President Barack Obama who plans to send more troops to boost NATO's military effort against the Taliban in Afghanistan. The railroad route through Uzbekistan is dubbed the Northern Distribution Network and runs through Russia, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan."

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See also:
'US turns to Uzbekistan for ISAF supplies', Daily Times, 5 February 2009
'Pentagon seeks new Afghan supply routes, discusses Kyrgyz base', Bloomberg, 5 February 2009
'', Asia Times Online, 5 February 2009

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