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Hunt for Bin Laden Took U.S. Special Forces to North Central Afghanistan Today

Aired March 27, 2002 - 11:02   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.
LEON HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: Up first on CNN, Al Qaeda and Taliban arrests. The hunt for Osama bin Laden took U.S. special forces to north central Afghanistan today. There is no indication they found him, but CNN cameras got an extraordinary look at the elite military unit at work.

Senior international correspondent Nic Robertson is in Bamiyan, Afghanistan today.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

NIC ROBERTSON, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Hooded and handcuffed, a man is taken into custody by U.S. special forces, believed by local commanders to a Pakistani Al Qaeda or Taliban operative. His arrest in Bamiyan is a rare glimpse into U.S. Efforts to track down Osama bin Laden.

Already held in captivity in the remote mountainous region, he was one of two Pakistani prisoners taken from the high-security compound during the day-long operation by U.S. special forces and regular army service personnel.

In a nearby compound, U.S. special forces kept guard over another group of prisoners who were Afghan Taliban fighters.

Technically off-limits to our cameras, more than two dozen captives could just be seen being processed by U.S. medical service personnel. Twelve of these Afghan Taliban prisoners were also taken, hooded and handcuffed, into custody during the operation, apparently to gather information and seek out significant Al Qaeda or Taliban members.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE (through translator): In this fight together, it is natural Americans are taking original Taliban members for information and intelligence to their base.

ROBERTSON: Inside the jail, 15 of the Afghan Taliban fighters were left behind by the U.S. forces. None say they know anything about Osama bin Laden.

Mir Wali (ph) shows how U.S. Personnel removed a hair from his head. Abdul says he, too, had a hair sample taken, and a photograph, adding he does not know why U.S. forces left him behind. (on camera): It is not uncommon here to find villagers or commanders who claim to have information about Osama bin Laden. On occasion, they fervently believe their information is useful.

(voice-over): At other times, however, there have been cases where information offered is false, or, at best, misleading. There is no indication that this is the case in Bamiyan, where the local leader is respected by international forces deployed here. Neither, however, is there any indication that this mission has so far brought Osama bin Laden closer to justice.

Nic Robertson, CNN, Bamiyan, Afghanistan.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

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