Twelve of the 15 Japanese in Afghanistan have left the country, the Foreign Ministry said Sunday, as fears mounted of an imminent U.S. military campaign in the country in retaliation for Tuesday's terrorist attacks on New York and Washington.

Another Japanese may have left the country under a previous evacuation advisory, but the ministry has not been able to confirm the person's whereabouts and has urged the other two to get out soon.

Most of the group are connected to the Office of the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees, the International Red Cross and nongovernmental organizations supporting Afghan refugees.