Afghanistan’s wary neighbours 
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Afghanistan’s immediate neighbours are concerned that with around 3.5 million Afghans internally displaced and 2.2 million refugees seeking sanctuary, instability could spread throughout the region
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Pakistan: Received almost 1.5 million refugees in 2020. Government of Prime Minister Imran Khan (below) backs Taliban with military support. Khan has welcomed new regime, claiming that Taliban broke shackles of
“slavery”
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UZBEK. 
TAJIKISTAN 
TURKMENISTAN
CHINA
Herat
AFGHANISTAN
Kabul
Kandahar 
PAKISTAN
IRAN 
Nimruz 
INDIA
Quetta 
Fazilka

160km 100 miles
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TAPI: Proposed 1,800km Turkmenistan- Afghanistan-Pakistan-India natural gas pipeline
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Iran: Hosted 780,000 Afghan refugees in 2020. President Ebrahim Raisi refuses to denounce Taliban. Reformists support National Resistance Front in Afghanistan’s Panjshir Valley
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Turkmenistan:
No commitment to take refugees. Has avoided openly criticizing new government in hopes that construction of U.S.-backed TAPI pipeline can continue
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Uzbekistan:
Will help transfer Afghan refugees to third countries. Neutral stance – will accept non-inclusive Taliban-only government
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Tajikistan:
Will accept up to 100,000 Afghan refugees.
Sep 2: President honours Ahmad Shah Massoud (below) – devout enemy of Taliban
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India: Hosted around 18,000 Afghan refugees in 1990s. Prime Minister Narendra Modi (above) sees new terror threat. 2008: Afghan Taliban-linked Lashkar-e-Taiba carries out coordinated shooting and bombing attacks in Mumbai, killing at least 174 people
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China: Refugees not welcome. Beijing has close relationship with Taliban, pledging $31 million in aid.
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President Xi Jinping (above) has kept embassy in Kabul open while eyeing $1 trillion Afghan mineral wealth. Wants to protect Belt and Road programme
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Pictures: Getty Images
Sources: Open Democracy, U.S. Institute of Peace
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