  Neutron stars in X-ray binary systems are fascinating objects that display a
wide range of timing and spectral phenomena in the X-rays. Not only parameters
of the neutron stars, like magnetic field strength and spin period evolve in
their active binary phase, the neutron stars also affect the binary systems and
their immediate surroundings in many ways. Here we discuss some aspects of the
interactions of the neutron stars with their environments that are revelaed
from their X-ray emission. We discuss some recent developments involving the
process of accretion onto high magnetic field neutron stars: accretion stream
structure and formation, shape of pulse profile and its changes with accretion
torque. Various recent studies of reprocessing of X-rays in the accretion disk
surface, vertical structures of the accretion disk and wind of companion star
are also discussed here. The X-ray pulsars among the binary neutron stars
provide excellent handle to make accurate measurement of the orbital parameters
and thus also evolution of the binray orbits that take place over time scale of
a fraction of a million years to tens of millions of years. The orbital period
evolution of X-ray binaries have shown them to be rather complex systems.
Orbital evolution of X-ray binaries can also be carried out from timing of the
X-ray eclipses and there have been some surprising results in that direction,
including orbital period glitches in two X-ray binaries and possible detection
of the most massive circum-binary planet around a Low Mass X-ray Binary.
