Afghan men watch a Northern Alliance tank, near the town of Dashti Kola in northern Afghanistan, near the frontline, on October 11, 2001. Forces loyal to Afghan warlord Ismail Khan said on Thursday they had captured the town of Chaghcharan, straddling a vital road linking Kabul to the western city of Herat. Chaghcharan lies about 250 km east of Herat and 350 km west of Kabul. The capture of the town would be a major blow to the Taliban after the Northern Alliance said on Tuesday that a group of Taliban commanders had changed sides and closed the Bagram-Bamiyan road to their former comrades.— REUTERS