A woman holds her children as they look across the border to Afghanistan from the Uzbek frontier town of Termez, Uzbekistan, on October 17. The Amu-Darya River is in the background. Photo: AP/Wide World

U.S. bombs may only be dropping on Afghanistan, but the neighbors of the Central Asian country are also feeling the impact.

Pakistan, Turkmenistan, Tajikistan, Iran, and Uzbekistan have all suffered consequences of the conflict between Afghanistan and America. Each closed its borders to keep fleeing refugees and targeted terrorists out. And each must make peace with the extremists within its own borders, with the government of Afghanistan, and with an angry U.S.

President George W. Bush said that “every nation in every region” must now decide whether it stands with the United States or with terrorists. “From this day forward, any nation that continues to harbor or support terrorism will be regarded by the United States as a hostile regime,” he said in a speech to a joint session of Congress in September.

Many foreign leaders say the situation is not that simple. They say they, too, could become targets of terrorism.

Over the Border
Many people in Turkmenistan fear the war may soon spill over its 460-mile border with Afghanistan. Citizens and leaders do not want additional outside troubles that could disrupt the country’s already shaky economy. They are also concerned about civilian casualties and an influx of refugees seeking food, shelter, and health care.

Despite these fears, Turkmenistan’s President has agreed to allow U.S. planes to use its airspace, but only for humanitarian food drops.

Tajikistan shares a 650-mile border with Afghanistan. Tajikistan’s economy and government are also struggling. The government has changed leaders three times during a five-year civil war. Most of its citizens live in serious poverty. Refugees will only add to its problems, both politically and economically.

Still, Tajikistan has offered to let the U.S. use its airspace and air bases for search-and-rescue missions and humanitarian operations.

The border between Uzbekistan and Afghanistan is relatively short at 100 miles. Uzbekistan leaders have clearly stated their support of U.S. air strikes against the Taliban. The U.S. has been granted access to air bases and air space. U.S. troops are also based in Uzbekistan.

Many in Uzbekistan are sympathetic to the U.S. because Uzbekistan has its own problems with terrorists. Terrorists linked to the Taliban regime have plagued Uzbeks since they gained independence from Russia in 1991. However, some citizens fear that the war will end up within their borders. Fueling that fear, Taliban leaders say they will attack Uzbekistan if the nation continues to support the U.S.