The bodies of the six others were left 200 yards from the Pakistani border, he said.

Most of these air kills were achieved within Pakistani borders.

Or he may have slipped away days ago and melted into the desolate region along the Pakistani border.

He was apprehended on the Pakistani border in November 2001.

Jalalabad, 70 km west of the Pakistani border, is the country's third largest city.

The hostages were thought to have been moved to the region close to the Pakistani border from the Kabul area, he said.

Most Afghan refugees have been turned back at the Pakistani border.

The region close to the Pakistani border is extremely dangerous with a high number of insurgents operating freely.

Others are fleeing to other parts of the country and the Pakistani border.

As they try in vain to reach the Pakistani border, his 8-month-old baby freezes to death.