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CNN Live Saturday

Taliban Strikes a Deal With Pashtun Tribesmen

Aired November 17, 2001 - 15:08   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.
CATHERINE CALLAWAY, CNN ANCHOR: Now to Kandahar, the Taliban's spiritual and operational base, and depending on whom you ask, the Taliban supreme leader is either still in control of the city, no longer in control or just pretending to not be in control, having turned the city over to confederates, as CNN's Carol Lin is keeping watch from the nearby town of Quetta, Pakistan.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

CAROL LIN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (on camera): We have learned of an unusual political maneuver under way in the city of Kandahar that basically allows the Taliban to remain inside the city of Kandahar, but not in control of it.

After a meeting of northern Pashtun tribesmen, it was decided that the deputy to the Mullah Mohammed Omar, the spiritual leader of the Taliban, would become the new chief administrator of the city of Kandahar. What is significant about this is that though he is Taliban, he is also a Norzai tribesman, and he is now taking his orders from the Norzai tribe elders.

This is an extension of a meeting now taking place in Quetta, Pakistan on this side of the border of Afghanistan, where tribal elders -- Afghan tribal elders, have been sending delegates into Kandahar to negotiate a peaceful resolution to allow the Taliban to peacefully withdraw, and to allow a Pashtun government to take effect inside of Kandahar.

They have issued an ultimatum to the Taliban: Lay down your weapons, or we will go to war with you. What they say is that the Taliban has three days to a week to decide; otherwise, they will begin this battle with the Taliban. But they do expect, though, given the signs inside of Kandahar, that the Taliban could fall completely sometime within the next two weeks.

Carol Lin, CNN, Quetta, Pakistan.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

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