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CNN Live At Daybreak

America's New War: Afghanistans Neighbors and Choices

Aired September 18, 2001 - 07:52   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.
PAULA ZAHN, CNN ANCHOR: Let's check in with Miles O'Brien, who has some information on the ongoing coalition building and how NATO might play into all of this -- good morning, Miles.

MILES O'BRIEN, CNN SPACE CORRESPONDENT: Paula, think of it as sort of a geopolitical primer on the region. Now, we've been talking an awful lot about Pakistan and the Pakistani delegation inside Afghanistan and what their motives might be, what their goals might be, what they might accomplish. Let's look at the region and look at some of the other governments and the neighboring countries which ring around Afghanistan.

Take a look at these pictures, as we zoom in on southwest Asia. Clockwise around Afghanistan, Iran, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and Pakistan. There's a little bit of China which touches Afghanistan, but we're not going to talk about that right now.

Let's talk about these Islamic republics. In Iran, the government, of course, the product of an Islamic revolution. Ayatollah Khameini is in charge there and they have indicated they will not support any U.S. military action in the region.

Having said that, Iran in recent memory has been trying to warm relations with the U.S. after obviously a very tense past.

Turkmenistan, the next one clockwise moving around Afghanistan. This is technically a republic for a government, but the leader of that government, Saparmural Niyazov has outlawed all formal opposition. This is a government which might be described as a strong one man rule.

Moving next door to Uzbekistan, this is a government, once again, is technically a republic and they are amenable, they have been reported to be amenable to discussing the use of its air space for potential attacks on Afghanistan.

Moving along to Tajikistan, the government technically a republic. The leader, Emomal Rakhmonov. The foreign ministry there has denied earlier reports that they might consider allowing U.S. troops to take up positions there. So it's unclear if that would be a staging ground.

And finally, Pakistan. We've been telling you an awful lot about that. The man in charge there, Pervez Musharraf, rules with an iron fist. He is apparently indicating some support of the United States. The real question that we have on our minds this morning is how real is that or is, perhaps, Mr. Musharraf playing for a little bit of time as the U.S. looks for ways to retaliate to this attack on the World Trade Center and in Washington.

So, quick, Southwest Asia 101, if you will, Paula.

ZAHN: Good job there, Miles.

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