US warplanes bombs 'fallen' Jalalabad

US jets are pounding Jalalabad amid reports the city has been seized by an Afghani warlord.

US jets are pounding Jalalabad amid reports the city has been seized by an Afghani warlord.

Afghan boy
An Afghan boy rides his bicycle passed buildings destroyed during the 22-year of war in Afghanistan. Photograph: Reuters.

Latest reports suggest that the warlord, who has refused to ally himself to either the Taliban or the Northern Alliance is in control of the city.

The Afghan Islamic Press said Yunis Khalis now controls the city as American warplanes bomb the city airport and military installations.

Other reports say Taliban fighters were switching sides in Jalalabad.

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Khalis' followers took control of the Afghan border station at Torkham, a major crossing point into Pakistan and were reportedly preventing anyone, including Afghans, from entering the country.

Citing an unidentified Taliban official, the agency also says warplanes attacked a military base in Khost, six miles from the border with Pakistan.

Many believe Osama bin Laden remains in the Jalalabad area where his al-Qaida network had a major training base and cave hideouts.