Return to Transcripts main page

CNN Live At Daybreak

America's New War: Saudi Arabia Cuts Taliban Ties

Aired September 25, 2001 - 08:01   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: Saudi Arabia says that it has cut relations with the ruling Taliban government in Afghanistan. The Saudis say the Taliban are harboring terrorists and dirtying their reputation of Muslims around the world.

With Saudi Arabia cutting its ties to the Afghan government, now only Pakistan has relations with the Taliban. A delegation from the European Union is in Pakistan today looking for support in the new war on terrorism.

CNN's Christiane Amanpour is in the Pakistan capital of Islamabad -- good morning again, Christiane.

CHRISTIANE AMANPOUR, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Paula.

Well, Pakistan making it clear that they have withdrawn all of their staff from Afghanistan, but that they remain the only possible window, if there was to be any sort of dialog between the Taliban and the international community in terms of cooperating with what the international community is demanding.

Now, the European Union has, as you say, sent a delegation here, basically trying to help the United States shore up the coalition, particularly in the Arab and Islamic world. They came here to assure the Pakistanis that this coalition against terror being built up is not in any way a coalition against the Islamic world, and they are going from Pakistan to Iran, Syria, Saudi Arabia, Egypt -- all of the countries where potentially support on the ground -- on the street may be a little shaky.

The Pakistani foreign minister welcomed them as the wise men of Europe, and the Europeans said that they would give Pakistan, at this moment, economic help.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

LOUIS MICHEL, BELGIAN FOREIGN MINISTER: Pakistan has taken a very courageous stance. They have decided to stand in solidarity with the United States and the EU, who considers this as a very brave stance, which has our full and unreserved support.

Pakistan has shown that it can and is willing in very difficult circumstances to take up its responsibility as a member of the international community. The EU greatly appreciates this courageous posture. Our EU mission came to Pakistan to convey to the Pakistani government, and indeed to the entire world, the message of full support from the EU to Pakistan.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

AMANPOUR: In return, Pakistan promised and pledged that it would remain a steadfast partner, as the foreign minister said, in this war against terrorism.

Now, the Pakistani government believes that the majority of this nation supports the president in standing with the United States, and indeed, we are being told by political groups in the big town of Karachi, south of here, that they plan to hold a big rally tomorrow -- they're trying to organize that -- in support of the decision to stand against terrorism -- Paula.

ZAHN: Christiane, thanks so much for that report, and we will continue to check in with you throughout the morning as well.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com.