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CNN Live Saturday

Taliban Deny Clashes With U.S. Troops

Aired October 20, 2001 - 17:21   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.
CATHERINE CALLAWAY, CNN ANCHOR: More details are coming out about the strike by U.S. forces into Afghanistan. Let's go now to CNN's John Vause in Islamabad, Pakistan for reaction to the commando raids -- John.

JOHN VAUSE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: That's right, Catherine. What we're hearing now is in fact that the Taliban are saying that they did not encounter any troops at all, that there was no engagement. We know that is not the case, at least according to the Pentagon, according to our people on the ground there.

As far as reaction go, we know that earlier tonight the Northern Alliance, perhaps spurred on by the special ground forces sent in by the U.S., wants their own attack on Kabul. There was apparently heavy fighting there earlier tonight in the hills and mountains outside the capital, but we also know that's just one of the fronts in which this war is being waged.

There is also the diplomatic war, on all these fronts are trying to set up some kind of new government. We know that in a few hours from now a religious leader from Pakistan will arrive back from a meeting in Rome with the exile king. A lot of people meeting with that exile king.

The UN to hold meetings with him later this week. But this religious leader, Peg Ulani (ph), will meet with tribal leaders, religious leaders, as well as local commanders in the tribal areas to try and work out some kind of strategy to put in place a new government once, of course, the Taliban government or regime does in fact fall out as expected by the coalition as they push on.

We also know, in fact, the war, which is going on in the hearts and minds of the people of Afghanistan. We're told today by the UN that since this campaign began, they have in fact dropped a half a million of those day ration packs over Afghanistan to try and relieve the growing crisis in there of a lack of food, a lack of resources, and a lack of aid.

So really this war against terrorism, the strikes against the Taliban, and al Qaeda certainly moving ahead on all fronts.

CALLAWAY: All right John Vause, CNN's John Vause reporting from Islamabad. Thank you John.

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