was not improved after many Barakzai Sardars still refused to march to Akram Khan's aid and support his campaign. Dost Mohammad refused to ratify the treaty agreed upon and ordered Akram Khan to "gamble everything" on the campaign in Balkh. In spite of the extreme cold and frost, Akram Khan immediately followed through with his fathers orders and in a matter of weeks, successfully took Khulm. This was due to Mir Wali and Ishan Uraq having disbanded their armies after being satisfied with the agreement that was drafted, and were taken into complete surprise when the Afghan army re-engaged its offensive into the north. By early January 1850, Akram Khan had seized possession of Balkh and installed an Afghan garrison in the city. Following this victory, many local rulers paid their homage and respect to Akram Khan. Following the fall of Khulm, Mir Wali was also forced to flee across the Oxus. Dost Mohammad Khan was extremely satisfied with the conquests of Akram Khan and his recent victories in Balkh. His desperate gamble to win Balkh had won off and the British threat to invade the country had alleviated. Leaving him open to continue his wars of unification. The first winter the Afghans experienced in the north of the Hindu Kush was difficult. Apart from the extreme frost, local scarcity and supply lines to the south were poor, what was left of the population of Balkh also refused to sell food to their new overlords. In an attempt to undermine their opponents, the Afghans spread rumors that Mir Wali had been captured and was prisoner in Kabul, yet he had actually fled across the Oxus. Instead, the Mir Wali had also began preparing for an offensive with the backing of a Bukharan army. Akram Khan, realizing the grave situation and war that was coming, spent the remaining weeks of the cold winter repairing forts along the Amu Darya and pleading Dost Mohammad to send further reinforcements. Also informing his father that he would rather "die" then have any of his brothers supersede him in the affairs of lesser Turkestan. When spring came, Akram Khan was in no position to complain about who commanded any Afghan reinforcements, as a Bukharan army, rumored to be over one hundred thousand strong, was reported to have arrived at the Qarqi preparatory to crossing the Amu Darya river. Ishan Uraq, who had taken refuge with