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CNN Live Event/Special

America's New War: Rebels Believe Taliban Knows Where bin Laden is

Aired September 24, 2001 - 06:09   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.
CAROL LIN, CNN ANCHOR: Well, Leon, the Northern Alliance has been fighting Afghanistan's Taliban for a half dozen years and they are skeptical of the Taliban's claim that Osama bin Laden's whereabouts are unknown.

CNN's Donna Kelley says the Northern Alliance also has some doubts about a new U.S. ally in the war against terrorism.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ABDULLAH ABDULLAH, NORTHERN ALLIANCE: I am certain -- I am quite confident that he is in Afghanistan.

DONNA KELLEY, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Abdullah Abdullah is talking about the prime suspect in the U.S. terrorist blitz, Osama bin Laden. Foreign Minister of Afghanistan's largest opposition group, Adbullah disputes stories that bin Laden has gone missing.

For years the Northern Alliance has been at war with the Taliban who call bin Laden a guest in their country. And Abdullah believes that the United States wants to dismantle Afghanistan's hard line Islamic rulers.

ABDULLAH: These are the indications, which we get from our conversations, though there hasn't been any direct promise in that regard but we can -- we can imagine that any attempt to eradicate terrorism would be half done if those forces which had created this situation remains in tact.

KELLEY: And in a sign of the difficulty ahead for the United States, Abdullah says that he's suspicious of Pakistani intelligence forces. U.S. officials are seeking help from Pakistan in the pursuit of bin Laden.

ABDULLAH: The United States of America relies on sources -- on forces in Pakistan. I mean ISI. That's the Inter Services Intelligence of Pakistan which have helped Taliban and terrorist networks in Afghanistan to expand their bases -- to establish their bases, to expand their bases throughout the region. And now those forces, that organization, ISI of Pakistan, is being asked to change course, to turn back.

KELLEY: Donna Kelley, CNN reporting. TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com