p.s. the Stans are a beaureaucratic pain but can be done at this short notice. They are totally worth the hassle but this is the wrong time of year to be heading out. The Pamirs and the Tien Shan are pretty high up and ice up over winter - and the exit options to the south are, as discussed, hugely expensive. I'd keep them on the to-do-list but maybe as a Mongolia link-up for another day. They are fantastic places to see though, pretty safe, nice people, great landscapes etc etc.
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