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CNN Live Saturday

Afghan/Pakistani Border Tensions Remain High

Aired September 22, 2001 - 17:18   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
WOLF BLITZER, CNN ANCHOR: And as the United States and its allies step up their preparations for possible military action against targets in Afghanistan the country's Taliban rulers remain defiant. And along the Afghanistan/Pakistani border tensions remain high.

CNN's Nic Robertson is in Quetta, Pakistan, just across the border from Afghanistan.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

NIC ROBERTSON, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Fewer people turning out at the demonstrations today in Pakistan, hundreds rather than thousands. On Friday tens of thousands had turned out in Karachi Lahore and Pashawa also a few thousand in Quetta. There are more demonstrations called in the coming days. The Islamic clerics here who are opposed to General Pervez Musharraf's backing of the United States and his offer to help support them in combating terrorism calling out people not only to demonstrate but also strikes to close stores.

In neighboring Afghanistan as well on the national radio broadcast this evening more details about the drone the Taliban's say they shot down. They say it was flying at about a height of four kilometers and it was also white in color. They say it contained computerized equipment and that it was unmanned. The Taliban also saying that they're not too disturbed and not too surprised by the move by the United Arab Emirates to break ties with them.

Pakistani diplomats also now have left their -- their embassy in Kabul and their offices in the Taliban spiritual capital, Kandahar. However, the Pakistan foreign ministry saying that the Taliban ambassador in Islamabad was still a window of opportunity for the Taliban to hear what the world was saying and if necessary for the world to communicate with them. However, Taliban officials today telling CNN that there is no diplomacy going on at this time.

Nic Robertson, CNN, Quetta, Pakistan.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

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