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CNN Live At Daybreak

Al Qaeda and Taliban Leaders Reportedly in Pakistan Regrouping and Plotting

Aired May 28, 2002 - 05:30   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 COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: Al Qaeda and Taliban leaders are reportedly in western Pakistan regrouping and plotting terrorist attacks, including car and suicide bombings. "The New York Times" says the warning came today from the commander of American-led forces in Afghanistan.

Major General Franklin Hagenback (ph) says Pakistan has developed its own plan to drive out the Taliban and al Qaeda. However, both Major Hagenback (ph) and Washington are concerned that tensions between India and Pakistan over Kashmir could delay Pakistan's military operations against the Al Qaeda terrorist network.

Pakistan has said that it intends to move some of its forces from the Afghan area to Kashmir. India and Pakistan have fought three wars over Kashmir, and there are now fears of a fourth war. And those fears have been heightened by Pakistan's series of missile tests. The government today fired its third nuclear-capable short-range missile.

Our Tom Mintier joins us live via video phone from Pakistan's capital of Islamabad with the latest.

Good morning.

TOM MINTIER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Carol.

The good news is that it was the last missile. The window has closed for their missile test program, at least as they announced it, and the door has opened for diplomacy. It's actually a revolving door. We're going to see a lot of people coming through here.

As you said earlier, they did launch the third in a series of their missiles; this one being a short-range missile this morning. They started the testing program on Saturday, fired a second one on Sunday, and the final one on Tuesday. Then said this was the last test firing of any of their missiles and there would be no more launches.

So we have seen three missile launches since Saturday. The Pakistani military officials say all went well; all three missiles hit their targets.

Now on the diplomatic front, British-born Secretary Jack Straw is in town. He has been meeting in the last hour with Pakistani President Musharraf. We will hear from in about 15 minutes on that meeting. Then he will get on a plane and fly to New Delhi to meet with Mr. Vajpayee.

Also, we heard last night from the president of Pakistan. He made a nationally televised address also broadcast on radio here. No new policies, no new concessions; basically that Pakistan was ready for war if it was thrust upon them. He said they didn't want war, but if it was thrust upon them, they would respond in time.

So a lot of tough talk from the Pakistani president, but the tone was not as harsh as it might have been. He did refer to India as the enemy several times in his speech, but also called on the international world community to mediate and to try to bring back these two nations from the brink, asking them to make India reduce the troops along the line of control and the border with Pakistan and start a dialogue between the two nations.

That dialogue may start early next month is Kazakhstan. The Russian president has invited both Mr. Vajpayee and Mr. Musharraf to a side meeting while they're there for a summit on Perasian (ph) leaders. We have yet to see whether both sides are going to accept that invitation -- Carol.

COSTELLO: You heard about the latest, though, Tom, I'm sure, that India is accusing Pakistan as allowing Al Qaeda and Taliban to go into Pakistan-controlled Kashmir. Can you tell us more about that?

MINTIER: Well I talked to a western diplomat last night about where the Pakistani forces are arrayed, if they've seen any of the Pakistani forces moving from the border with Afghanistan towards the India border. And they say, according to their satellite intelligence photos, they have not seen movement, saying that the Pakistani troops are still arrayed along the Pakistan side of the border with Afghanistan.

They have not seen any movement of these troops towards the border with India and into Kashmir. So there is concern, there has been concern for weeks, if not months, that because of the tensions with India that Pakistan would shift its focus from the border with Afghanistan in helping the United States to protecting its own interest along the border with India.

COSTELLO: All right, Tom Mintier, we're excited to hear what Jack Straw has to say. We'll get to that in about 15 minutes, as you said. Thank you.

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