Turkey maintains a small military force in afghanistan, part of the nato contingent working with u.s. Troops to beat back the resurgent taliban and deny al-qaida a safe haven along the largely lawless territory that straddles afghanistan's border with pakistan. Turkey's participation carries enormous symbolic importance to the muslim world because of its presence in the fight against islamic extremism. Albania, one of the poorest nations in europe, has a small contingent in afghanistan. Turkey has diplomatic leverage with both pakistan and afghanistan.