Massacre fears The refugees are very closely linked to the Northern Alliance and its commander Ahmed Shah Masood. They are fleeing the Taleban forces because they fear for their life. Last year and the year before, when the Taleban made similar military gains in the area, a large number of civilians were massacred. This year the Taleban's supreme leader, Mullah Omar, publicly broadcast a message to his troops asking them not to carry out any massacres or enter people's homes. But the fear is paramount.
Aid workers say they are unable to reach the refugees because of the remoteness of the area.
United Nations officials are now in Kabul trying to persuade the Taleban to allow aid convoys through before snow blocks roads and leaves the refugees stranded. The winter in the Pamir mountains is only six weeks away and there is an urgent need to get food stocks to the refugees to last them through the winter months.