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CNN Sunday Morning

U.S. Forces Step Up Attacks on Taliban

Aired October 21, 2001 - 10:06   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.
MARTIN SAVIDGE, CNN ANCHOR: CNN has learned that U.S.-led forces are stepping up attacks on Taliban frontline positions. CNN's Matthew Chance has the latest from northern Afghanistan -- Matthew.

MATTHEW CHANCE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: That's right, Martin. Some significant developments we'd like to pass on to you, now that it's come through to us within the last couple of hours.

In fact, the CNN crew stationed at the frontline here, north of Kabul, has witnessed what it says a series of U.S.-led attacks against Taliban frontline positions in the -- on the (AUDIO GAP) Kabul. The CNN crew has been reporting to us is that there were four separate bombing raids by what they have -- what appeared to have been U.S. fighter-bomber planes on those Taliban frontline positions. It's just about 25 kilometers north of Kabul.

We haven't seen those kinds of sustained attacks since the beginning of the U.S.-led campaign here. What's also interesting according to the CNN crew reporting from down there is that senior Northern Alliance commanders had gathered, apparently to witness those attacks, suggesting of course, a high level of coordination between the military commands of the United States and the Northern Alliance. So these pictures are en route back from the frontline to us here. We'll get them to you as soon as we can.

In the meantime, let me tell you that I was standing down on that very frontline this morning, local time, and it was a very tense situation, indeed, a lot of artillery exchanges taking place between the two sides, the Taliban returning artillery fire across to the Northern Alliance positions.

There was no sign at that point of the much wanted push by the Northern Alliance towards the Afghan capital Kabul. Obviously, we're watching the situation very closely in the light of the recent developments -- Martin.

SAVIDGE: Matthew, is there anything specifically, say geographically, in that area that would draw the attention of the United States, besides the Taliban forces?

CHANCE: I don't think so, no. I mean the main strategic reason for the strikes, it appears, is that these Taliban troop concentrations are the main obstacle to the Northern Alliance advance on the capital, Kabul, those frontlines just 25 kilometers, as I mentioned, from Kabul. They're stationed, the Taliban troops, on a mountain which basically blocks the road towards Kabul of the Northern Alliance.

Northern Alliance commanders have been expressing their frustration for some time that the U.S.-led strikes so far have concentrated more on targets deep inside Afghanistan and not enough on those frontline targets that they fight on a day-to-day basis. The removal of those frontlines, those Taliban positions of course, would essentially open the way for a Northern Alliance advance on the capital -- Martin.

SAVIDGE: CNN's Matthew Chance reporting to us live from northern Afghanistan on the fact that U.S.-led forces appear to be stepping up attacks on the Taliban forces. Thank you very much, Matthew.

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