Thousands of Afghans have been pouring across the border into refugee camps in Pakistan while in Kabul families fled to the countryside as reports increase of large-scale population movements ahead of an expected US military strike.
Countries sharing borders with Afghanistan have begun closing their borders against the tide of refugees.
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Afghan children attempting to flee ahead of a feared US bombardment
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"If there is an attack, of course no one will be spared," said 35-year-old Mr Mira Jan, a Kabuli who was loading his household belongings onto a truck in anticipation of a US attack.
Ordinary people said they felt surrounded after Iran announced it was closing its border and Pakistan agreed to a list of US requests for assistance in tracking down alleged terrorist Osama bin Laden.
UN refugee officials in Iran warned that population movements inside Afghanistan are several times higher than usual.
"We don't have information on arrivals at the border (with Iran), but we know that population movements are three times larger than normal," said Surendra Banday, with the UN High Commissioner for Refugees in Iran.
With the expulsion of the last remaining foreigners from the International Committee of the Red Cross, eight aid workers held in custody for allegedly preaching Christianity were among the only remaining Westerners in Afghanistan.
The withdrawal of the expatriate staff of the Red Cross was another powerful symbol of Afghanistan's increasing isolation.
"We have been reducing our expatriate staff to a minimum necessary to run our activities in all our sub-delegations," said Robert Monin, the Red Cross chief in Afghanistan.
"But now I have come to the decision to push our reduction a little bit further and leave the country with all our expatriates."
He said the move followed an order from the Taliban on Saturday that all foreigners should leave the country because the Isalmic militia could no longer guarantee their safety.
The United States has identified bin Laden, who lives in Afghanistan as a "guest" of the ruling Taliban militia, as the prime suspect in investigations into last week's terror strikes.
Bin Laden today denied any involvement in his first statement since the attacks which killed more than 5,000 people from around the world.
But the Taliban remained defiant. Foreign Minister Wakil Ahmad Mutawakel said bin Laden had the militia's full protection.
"We will use all available means and resources for the defence of our country. It is our responsibility to provide security to all the people living in our country," he said.
He also renewed the Taliban's warning that neighbours who assist the United States with a military attack would be considered enemies.
"If any country helps America on this issue or offers its ground or air space to help the US force, we can launch an attack under compulsion," he said.
A Russian division based in Tajikistan, which borders Afghanistan, had also been placed on alert, Russian Defence Minister Mr Sergei Ivanov announced.
AFP