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Nic Robertson: Tora Bora searches continue

Nic Robertson

TORA BORA, Afghanistan (CNN) -- The bombing has subsided and the dust is settling in the mountains of eastern Afghanistan. But cave-to-cave searches have still not turned up Osama bin Laden.

CNN's Nic Robertson filed this report.

ROBERTSON: Eastern Alliance commanders have now withdrawn most of their forces from the Tora Bora Mountain range.

There are still some fighters there, along with U.S. and British special forces who are still searching out any al Qaeda members, and possibly Osama bin Laden, who may still be in those mountains. But for the most part, the war in this corner of Afghanistan appears to be over.

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B-52s were flying over here this morning. One circled five times before leaving the region. We have seen planes in the last few days, but they have not been dropping bombs.

Also, local commanders here have been able to capture some al Qaeda members. They are being held in a prison facility not far from here. At least one claims not to be an al Qaeda member; but true or false, all his accounts and those of others with him will likely be heard by investigators who are trying to ascertain the whereabouts of Osama bin Laden. Commanders here say they don't know where he is. The search does continue.