THE brother of a man being held prisoner by the Northern Alliance in Afghanistan today spoke about his family's plight since the Allied forces bombing campaign started.

Azmal Khan, a businessman who lives in Colne Road, now thinks the American and British air-strikes could jeopardise his brother's release.

He said: "To an extent I think his position has been jeopardised because now there will not be any focus on releasing prisoners.

"The main focus of the Northern Alliance will now be ousting the Taliban regime and taking control of the country".

Anwar Khan left Burnley for Pakistan in 1998 to study religion and to wean himself off heroin.

It is thought that Anwar crossed the border and was captured by the Northern Alliance while fighting for the Taliban in Afghanistan.

His family had hoped that the current situation in Afghanistan would help secure his release. They had hoped that the British Government would now be able to contact the Northern Alliance and make a case for Anwar's return to Burnley.

A spokesman for the Foreign Office confirmed that an attempt to contact the Northern Alliance had been made and that they were still waiting to hear a response.

That wait has left Anwar's family in Burnley clinging to the hope that, for them, some good may come out of the crisis in Afghanistan. Azmal also believes that now a conflict has begun, the welfare of the prisoners may be put at risk. "I saw pictures on the television news of Taliban prisoners that were being held by the Northern Alliance. One was lifted out of a hole, barefoot and wearing chains. He looked in a terrible state, it was shocking to see.

"The Foreign Office have assured us that they have made representations to the Northern Alliance and they are just waiting to hear a reply. First of all we need to establish whether or not he is going to be released and whether or not there are going to be any pre-conditions to his release."