The refugees include almost the entire population of the town of Taloqan, which was recently captured by the Taliban in its drive to expel the opposition Northern Alliance from its remaining strongholds. The refugees are closely linked to the Northern Alliance and its commander Ahmed Shah Masood. Last year and the year before, when the Taliban made similar military gains in the area, a large number of civilians were massacred.
Aid workers say they are unable to reach the refugees because of the remoteness of the area.
The rebels surrendered on Monday in the eastern region of Darband after being surrounded following more than a week of fighting. Mullo Abdullo is believed to have close links to the Uzbek rebel commander, Juma Namagani, whose Islamist followers have been involved in recent fighting in Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan. Mullo Abdullo fought with the Islamist-led opposition forces during the civil war in Tajikistan from 1992 to 1997. Uzbekistan has asked Australia to reconsider its decision to ban an Uzbek Olympic official from the Sydney Games. Gafur Rakhimov, who is alleged to have ties to organized crime, stopped last week from entering Australia.