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CNN Live At Daybreak

America Strikes Back: Further Reports From Kabul

Aired October 08, 2001 - 08:03   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.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: Let's go the land on the ground in Afghanistan and CNN's Kamal Hyder joining us by telephone -- good afternoon I should to you. I was about to say good morning.

Tell us what is happening at this point where you are, and what you're observing?

KAMAL HYDER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Bill, it's very quiet here. Last night kept most people awake here, because even though they could not hear the sounds of the explosions, they knew over the radio that Afghanistan was under attack, and most people had sleepless nights. They were wondering whether the next round would hit somewhere close by.

And as evening -- as we near the evening today, it is again an apprehension that tonight there will be more attacks. And ...

HEMMER: Kamal, on Saturday, you told me that you were noticing several people going back to their homes. Is that the case now? Or what can you gauge?

HYDER: No, Bill, in fact, most people came back to their homes when the attack didn't take place and amid speculation that it's going to happen tonight or tomorrow night. Most people thought it was safer to bring their families homes, because [UNINTELLIGIBLE] reassured that any attack on Afghanistan would not target innocent people. They understood that they would not be under any threat.

And even last night, as the attack was going on, most families decided -- most of the men folk and their family said to their children and women to go to sleep and not to worry. And this morning, of course, they decided that they didn't want to take any chances, and therefore, to get children and women out to the rural areas again -- Bill.

HEMMER: Kamal, I don't know if you can see what we're airing right now, but we're running some videotape by way of Al-Jazeera that shows, and we cannot be conclusive at this point, but it may indicate some damage in some part of the country in Afghanistan.

What are you hearing based on reports inside the county in the aftermath of the first wave of air strikes?

HYDER: Well, first they are striking [UNINTELLIGIBLE] because most of the airports have been hit. Herat has been hit, and [UNINTELLIGIBLE] has been hit in Herat. At Kandahar Airport, there are now independent reports coming out to Kandahar that the anti- aircraft missile system was severely hit and that communications was broken down and that there were casualties at the airport as well.

In Jalalabad, these missiles struck places, which were allegedly run by terrorist working inside Afghanistan. These places -- there was enough intelligence about them, and since they were on the outskirts of the city to the south and to the west, most people in Jalalabad did not see any bombs or missiles falling on the main city.

And of course, those areas that are inaccessible to ordinary people, and the Taliban must have sealed those areas off from public view -- Bill.

HEMMER: Kamal, just a quick answer here. By my watch, it's about 4:30 local time. What time does the sun go down and get dark there?

HYDER: Well, it's about 6:00-6:30. It's already dark.

HEMMER: OK.

HYDER: 6:30.

HEMMER: OK.

HYDER: About 8:00 or 9:00, it is pitch dark.

HEMMER: That's right. OK. Again, about two, two-and-a-half hours from that happening. We will watch it. Kamal Hyder on the ground -- stay safe. We'll talk a bit later this morning.

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