Russia's LUKoil, China's China National Petroleum Corp. and Uzbekistan's Uzbekneftegaz will jointly develop natural gas condensate fields in Uzbekistan, an unnamed Uzbekneftegaz source said March 29, Trend.az reported March 31.

Uzbek authorities on Jan. 17 unilaterally closed several checkpoints on Uzbekistan's border with Kyrgyzstan, AKI Press reported Jan. 18, citing the State Border Service of Kyrgyzstan.

Tajik Prime Minister Oqil Oqilov sent a message to his Uzbek counterpart, Shavkat Mirziyoyev, regarding Uztransgaz's decision to suspend natural gas exports to Tajikistan, Tajik Avesta reported Dec. 25.

Uzbekistan must prepare for the unrest that will occur in Afghanistan after NATO withdraws, Uzbek President Islam Karimov said Oct. 10, Uzbek Television First Channel reported.

Russian military bases in Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan will ensure stability in Central Asia after NATO withdraws from Afghanistan, Russian President Vladimir Putin said while visiting Kyrgyzstan, RIA Novosti reported Sept. 20.

Tension is growing in Central Asia due to the upcoming withdrawal of NATO troops from Afghanistan, Uzbek President Islam Karimov said Sept. 7 during a meeting with Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev in Astana, Trend reported.