Uzbekistan joins Tajikistan and Russia in officially approving the shipment of building supplies, medicines and water for use by US-led coalition forces fighting in Afghanistan.

"Uzbekistan has agreed to the transit of non-military cargo to Afghanistan," Karimov was quoted by news agency Interfax as saying.

Supplying troops in the hard-to-access northern part of the country has become critical as US President Barack Obama boosts operations to combat a growing Taliban insurgency. This month, he ordered 17,000 more forces to Afghanistan.

But the news also comes after the US lost a strategic airbase in region this month when Kyrgyzstan terminated its contract for the Manas base amid Russian pressure.