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CNN Live Saturday

Northern Alliance Advances Sustaining Casualties

Aired November 10, 2001 - 17:08   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.
JONATHAN MANN, CNN ANCHOR: Now, even the Taliban admit that Mazar-e Sharif has fallen to opposition forces. The Northern Alliance now controls this strategic northern city, and the victory has recharged Alliance troops who are now setting their sights on a bigger military prize, the Afghan capital, Kabul.

Today, troops got a fresh supply of munitions and advanced further toward Kabul, engaging in a battle for Taliban-controlled Kokoda (ph) Hill, another strategic town.

CNN's Satinder Bindra reports from Afghanistan just three miles from the front where the Northern Alliance is launching the offensive. We caution you before we show you that report. Some of the images may be difficult to watch.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

SATINDER BINDRA, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The first casualties of war in this sector. 18-year-old Naji Bullah (ph) went into battle this morning alongside other Northern Alliance soldiers -- full of hope, dreaming of victory. He ended the day without his right leg, blown away by a landmine. In primitive conditions, working under the light of these lanterns, Northern Alliance doctors get busy with amputations.

All the soldiers here are barely out of their teens. As doctors try to calm them, more casualties pour in. Solo Tholah (ph) also stepped on a landmine. He deals with the pain, waiting patiently for attention, then doctors perform another amputation.

For some, help comes too late. One Northern Alliance commander succumbs to his injuries.

Taliban shelling in this sector kills more Northern Alliance troops. One shell lands on a small mud hut. Watching the cloud of dust as the shell lands just 50 meters away from him, a CNN staffer.

RAJESH MISHRA, CNN SOUND TECHNICIAN (through translator): I went to the site where one Northern Alliance soldier was dead and two others injured. They were asking for help to take them to the hospital.

BINDRA: A CNN jeep then drove the injured to the same clinic where those injured on the frontlines are being treated. With the latest arrivals, every bed in this tent clinic is taken.

It's not just been a busy day for the doctors. Northern Alliance gunners have kept up a relentless barrage of fire against frontline Taliban positions. U.S. planes add to the pressure as they bomb the same positions from the air. Northern Alliance commanders describe this as an offensive.

Some even claim dozens of Northern Alliance tanks are on the move. It's a claim that cannot be independently verified. But what is evident is this has been the heaviest fighting in this sector in weeks.

Just until week, Northern Alliance commanders complained they had no ammunition. Now, guns have been rushed to the front. As they're prepared for action, we noticed tons of new ammunition at the frontline. Also being loaded and prepared for fire, deadly Katusha rockets.

(on camera): Northern Alliance commanders claim their forces are advancing, quote, "bunker-by-bunker in this sector." And even at night, gunners here continue to pound away at Taliban positions. But with the Taliban firing back and this sector heavily mined, commanders here concede the next few days will test their troops.

Satinder Bindra, CNN, Dashtiqala, Northeastern Afghanistan.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

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