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CNN Live Saturday

Ordinary Afghanis Prepare for U.S. Attacks

Aired September 15, 2001 - 18:10   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.
JOIE CHEN, CNN ANCHOR: In Afghanistan right now, there is a clear sense of fear, possibility of a U.S. attack because Afghanistan plays host to prime suspect Osama bin Laden. CNN's Nic Robertson reports now via videophone from Kabul.

NIC ROBERTSON, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, the latest information we have is that the Iranian government has ordered its border with Afghanistan sealed. In the case of the aftermath of an American attack on Afghanistan, that refugees trying to flood across the border -- Iran says it has two million of Afghan refugees already and can't take anymore.

Now, this comes hard on the heels of the Pakistani government giving the go-ahead to United States support. That has implication in Afghanistan as well, because it could mean the border with Pakistan and Afghanistan is sealed.

Now here in the capital here, Kabul, and other cities around the country, shortages of food. Most food coming to go Afghanistan comes from Pakistan and Iran. So, the outlook for the people here in Kabul and the other cities fairly bleak. Already we know that there's been a little panic buying, people trying to buy up supplies in case of attack. Food prices have gone up 10 to 15 percent. And those with a little bit more money have been trying to get out of the city to see relatives in the country, or if they can flee across those borders, particular to Pakistan, before the borders close.

The Taliban today did try to put pressure on Pakistan not to sign up to help America. They threatened that if any neighbor, particularly an Islamic one, was to help America by giving it soil or airspace to America, then they would consider them an enemy as well in case of attack and then they might invade that country. That's a clear statement, a clear threat toward Pakistan.

The counselor of elders today also told the Taliban here in Afghanistan that they shouldn't close the door to the diplomacy, but they did say, and they made it very clear that if Afghanistan was attacked, then the council of elders, which represents many of the tribes here in Afghanistan, would throw their complete support behind the Taliban.

Nic Robertson, CNN, Kabul, Afghanistan.

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