WASHINGTON -- The United States has signed a new deal with the Central Asian nation of Uzbekistan to bring nonmilitary supplies to U.S. fighting forces in Afghanistan. 

The deal, announced by the Pentagon on Friday, is part of the U.S. backup plan to compensate for the expected eviction of the Americans from a key air base. That base, in neighboring Kyrgyzstan, will probably close to U.S. operations later this year. 

Under the new deal, the U.S. will ship food and other supplies by land and air through Uzbekistan, the Pentagon said. 

The deal helps heal a diplomatic rupture over the last few years, following a deadly crackdown on Uzbek protesters. 

The United States is still working out other backup routes, including through Pakistan.