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CNN Live Saturday

American Troops Assist Northern Alliance

Aired October 20, 2001 - 16:22   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.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: U.S. and Pakistan officials say American troops are also in the ground in Northern Afghanistan helping to assist the opposition group -- that's the Northern Alliance -- described as a liaison role.

CNN's Satinder Bindra is with a group of opposition fighters in the northern corner of Afghanistan.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

SATINDER BINDRA, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The front line in Deshtiqala, northeastern Afghanistan on the Muslim holiday Juma (ph), a day usually devoted to prayer, but for these Northern Alliance soldiers located just two miles away from thousands of Taliban troops, it's business -- war as usual.

Since the largely Pashtun-dominated Taliban first came to power in 1996, they've been fighting other minorities like the northern based Tajiks and Uzbeks now united under the Northern Alliance banner.

After years of fighting, alliance leaders say they may have a military edge. They believe a two-week-old U.S.-led bombing campaign has weakened their enemy, the Taliban, but smaller field commanders like Ghulam Nabi say the bombing may not make that much of a difference.

GHULAM NABI, NORTHERN ALLIANCE (through translator): We have been fighting this war for seven years now, and the U.S. bombing does not matter much to us. We will win anyway.

BINDRA: Commander Ghulam Nabi has 40 men under his command, troops who share his vision of liberating Afghanistan from what he calls the harsh rule of the Taliban.

NABI (through translator): We are fighting against what the Taliban have done here. In the end, we hope to capture most of Afghanistan.

BINDRA: Many analysts are skeptical of the Northern Alliance's military capabilities. Some of those carrying guns in the field appear to be very young, but what seems to matter in a country ravaged by more than 20 years of war is not the age of the soldier but his fighting spirit. (on camera): Over the past two month, Commander Nabi says his soldiers have advanced close to the Taliban positions. The Taliban front line is just over these hills, within range of 81 mm mortars, and every day Commander Nabi's troops keep up a steady barrage of fire.

(voice-over): On this day, the Taliban did not retaliate to mortar attacks, allowing Commander Nabi to give his troops a break. Over a simple meal of watermelon and rice, the commander poured out his story. He's been fighting for 19 years in Afghanistan's various wars, long enough he says to realize the Taliban are among the toughest fighters in the world, and also long enough, he says, to teach his men this war may bring peace.

ABDUL SABOOR, NORTHERN ALLIANCE SOLDIER (through translator): The world knows what the Taliban have done here, what kind of conditions they've created here.

BINDRA: Abdul Saboor makes $12 a month. His boss, Commander Nabi makes $25 a month -- not much, given he has 10 children to look after. But that's not stopping his eldest son, who Commander Nabi says with pride, is also following in his footsteps, fighting with the Northern Alliance.

Satinder Bindra, CNN, Deshitiqala, northeastern Afghanistan.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

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