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CNN Live Event/Special

Target: Terrorism - Afghanistan's Northern Alliance Holds Position 15 Miles from Kabul, Await Possible U.S. Strikes

Aired October 05, 2001 - 06:39   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.
CATHERINE CALLAWAY, CNN ANCHOR: A tremendous task ahead for Secretary of -- for Rumsfeld as he must feel a tremendous amount of pressure as he heads into Uzbekistan this morning. No idea how this -- how the meetings will turn out.

But perhaps CNN's Matthew Chance can shed some light on what the situation is in Afghanistan -- what U.S. troops are up against. He spent the night with the Northern Alliance on the front lines in Afghanistan. Let's listen.

MATTHEW CHANCE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, for recent days, we've been reporting a renewed sense of military activity here in northern Afghanistan, where we've managed to get to one of the key front lines in Afghanistan civil war. Here at Rabat, just 25 kilometers, about 15 miles from the capital of Kabul.

Let's take you through exactly what we're able to see here at this front line. You can see here behind me an old Soviet-era APC -- armored personnel carrier. The tracks on the wheels have completely been taken off it. And it's still being used for defensive capabilities. It still has weapons on top of that. As you can see, it's manned by some armed mujahideen of the Northern Alliance. They say that they're holding a defensive position here in case any Taliban advance approaches up this road.

Let's show you exactly where the Taliban are from here. If you'll just come this way -- this defensive earthen bunker (UNINTELLGIBLE) climb to the top of that to get a better picture of the lay of the land around here in northern Afghanistan. Now, just a few hundred meters over this rugged patch of no-man's land, about 400 meters in this direction, in fact, there is the Taliban front line. The Taliban occasionally fire in this direction, we are told by Northern Alliance commanders. They return fire as well. This is a very volatile area. This whole patch of no-man's land has changed hands three times in the past few years.

As I say, Northern Alliance commanders say they're holding this position. They're waiting for an order to move ahead towards Kabul for the ultimate aim, of course, of taking the capital. And they say one of the things they're considering right now is to see when the United States or in what form it will take military action in Afghanistan so they can work out their own battle plan.

Matthew Chance, CNN, at the front line in northern Afghanistan.

CAROL LIN, CNN ANCHOR: Kabul just 15 miles away from where Matthew was standing right now.

CALLAWAY: Interesting night for Matthew for sure it was.

LIN: That's right.

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