AN Afghan asylum seeker living in Blackburn watched the TV in horror as Allied forces bombed his homeland -- knowing that his family could have been killed.

Abdal Rahman, an Afghan journalist told to leave the country by the Taliban nearly a year ago after he criticised them, spent last night trying to understand what was being said on British news bulletins at his temporary home in the town.

He has heard little from his sister, also a journalist, and his parents, in recent weeks.

He does not know if they are still living in Kabul, one of the main targets in the opening night of Operation Enduring Freedom, or whether they are among the hundreds of thousands of refugees trying to flea to Pakistan.

He said: "Innocent people will die if something does not happen to make it all stop. Bin Laden should be handed over.

"I do not know if my family are alive or where they are. I cannot contact them.

"All I see is what is on the television and it makes me very sad.

"I do not know if I will ever see them again. I do not know if I will get to stay in this country.

"I want to know how they are because I do fear something has happened to them.

"They are innocent like all the other families but they are the ones who suffer.

"We have already suffered 30 years of war and it gets worse."

Abdal, who has changed his named because he fears he may be targeted by extremist Taliban supporters thought to be living in East Lancashire, added: "I struggle to understand what people say because my English is not good.

"What happened in America was disgusting but it is innocent people, already suffering, who will suffer more."