AN Afghan asylum seeker, who fled his homeland after being threatened by the Taliban, fears his relatives could be killed unless terror suspect Osama Bin Laden is handed over.

As America and its allies beef up their military presence around Afghanistan, where the prime suspect behind the terrorist attacks on America and his al-Qaeda terror organisation are based, Abdal Rahman has been desperately trying to contact his relatives.

Abdal -- who has changed his name amid fears that his critical stance against the Taliban could lead to him being attacked in this country -- fled Afghanistan for Blackburn nearly a year ago after being ordered to leave because of his work as an independent journalist.

Now he fears his family, based in the capital Kabul, and thousands of other innocent families could end up suffering if the Allies strike.

The oppressive Taliban have offered to make bin Laden stand trial but have refused to extradite him.

US president George W Bush and the British government have said they will treat those who harbour the terrorists the same as the terrorists themselves -- and it is believed air strikes could start this weekend.

Anti-Taliban fighters with the Western-backed Northern Alliance are just 12 miles from Kabul, with refugee camps at the border with Pakistan full of tens of thousands of families all fleeing the Taliban and their strict rules.

Abdal, who is in his 30s, said: "My sister and my parents are still there but I do not know how to get in contact with them. I do not know how they are.

"I fear that if the Taliban does not hand over bin Laden, thousands of innocent families like mine will suffer as a result.

"He should be handed over but they do not care about the people.

"They treat them appallingly.

"My sister is a famous journalist, known to the BBC, but since the Taliban came in she has had to sit at home because the Taliban will not let her work.

"So many people have already suffered. There has been a war there for 30 years and life is very hard.

"I do not think everyone knows what goes on in America. They do not know what might happen. Things are already very bad. Women cannot work, children cannot play, there is no television. It is impossible to describe how difficult things are there.

"I do not know where my family are. They could be moving. I do not think I will ever see them again and I am very worried about them. I had to leave the country or else they would have been attacked.

"The only way to make sure people stay safe and aren't hurt because of bin Laden is if he is handed over. What happened in America was disgusting but innocent people in Afghanistan will get hurt in return if he is not handed over."

Foreign Secretary Jack Straw has taken up Abdal's case to find out why it has taken 11 months for his asylum application to be processed.

The Blackburn MP yesterday made an appeal to the Afghan people to support the Allies, promising to help rebuild Afghanistan if the Taliban is overthrown.

Speaking on the BBC World Service, which can be picked up in Afghanistan, Mr Straw said: "This is not a fight against Islam, it is a fight against terror.

"All religions value life, justice, compassion. Terrorists do not.

"We have no quarrel with the people of Afghanistan.

"But foreign extremists are abusing the traditional hospitality of the Afghan people.

"The Taliban regime harms Afghanistan and its people by protecting Osama bin Laden and his colleagues from justice."

Abdal added: "People in Afghanistan just want the war to end. Life is so hard. I would like to know my family are safe but I do not know where to look."

A spokesman for the Foreign Office said: "It is a difficult situation because Afghanistan is a difficult country to liaise with at the best of times.

"Communication links are very poor."