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CNN Live Saturday

Some POWs in Afghanistan Get Second Chance at Freedom

Aired December 15, 2001 - 16:46   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.
CAROL LIN, CNN ANCHOR: Some prisoners of war in Afghanistan are getting a second chance at freedom. Their release is apparently a goodwill gesture and comes despite some adamant objections.

Reporter Brianne Leary has the story.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BRIANNE LEARY, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Behind these locked doors, Pakistani prisoners anxiously wait to see the sunlight and breathe fresh air. There is some tension, but also a sense of lighthearted anticipation.

These men are Pakistani volunteers, who followed their convictions and traveled into Afghanistan for the jihad, the holy war. The prisoners gather their few belongings. And then, man after man, they slowly file out, pale and weak, but grateful for the warm reception.

(on camera): For about a month, over 200 men were held as prisoners here. Their crime was that they fought with the Taliban. Now, as a gesture of goodwill to mark Ramadan, the Eastern Alliance decided to release them.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: They are not innocent, but our chief commanders and other responsible people, they forgive them.

LEARY (voice-over): I asked him how the prisoners managed in such a small space, under such squalid conditions.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You know this is a very poor area, poor country. In this area, every family has just one room.

LEARY: When pressed about how the prisoners felt, he suggested I ask them.

Mansoor, a young man held for 20 days, told his story, denying that he and his compatriots were fighting with the Taliban.

"We don't know who we were with," he says. "We didn't know if they were Pakistanis or Taliban."

We asked Mansoor how he and the other men were treated by the guards. "They helped us," he said. "We had a good time. I will remember this place."

With that, a peace sign and a smile. So what happens to these former prisoners of war? Commander Bahoola (ph) says they will be free in Pakistan. Perhaps to the annoyance of the United States, who wants the Taliban supporters brought to justice.

But for now, they're viewed no longer as adversaries, but as heroes. And as they depart, they happily wave good-bye to their Muslim brothers and make their way home to Pakistan.

Brianne Leary for CNN, Nangarhar province, Afghanistan.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

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