AMERICAN B-52s today began carpet bombing Taliban frontline positions in Afghanistan for the first time.

The change of policy is designed to help the opposition Northern Alliance launch ground attacks against the Taliban.

Rear Admiral John Stufflebeem, deputy director of operations for the US Joint Chiefs of Staff, said B-52 bombers were attacking targets "all over the country, including Taliban forces in the north".

Meanwhile, the Taliban claims 1,500 people have been killed since America launched its bombing blitz on October 7.