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CNN Live At Daybreak

America Strikes Back: Some Fighters in Northern Alliance Growing Impatient

Aired October 10, 2001 - 08:45   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: As the U.S. bombs hit Taliban targets in Afghanistan, some fighters in the northern part of the county with the Northern Alliance growing a bit impatient from their stronghold.

CNN's Matthew Chance is tracking their story.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MATTHEW CHANCE, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Daybreak over the Shimoli (ph) plains, the alluring name for this dusty, landmine invested frontline north of the Afghan capital. Coming battles could be for this.

After another night of U.S.-led air attacks to the south, the opposition Northern Alliance resumed their barrage of Taliban-forward positions. The leadership says it is in close contact with Washington to coordinate military activity. But these hardened fighters are growing impatient with the advance (ph) on Kabul and U.S. strikes on the Taliban held mountain blocking their path.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Perhaps, the perception of some of our commanders are different from a military strike, and they would expect the forces and the immediate contact with them to be struck first rather than the whole strategy. For myself, it is quite understandable what's happening, and I should say once again that it is going well.

CHANCE: But the situation may be worsening for a growing number of Afghans. Already the country has as many as a million displaced. U.S.-led attacks are simply leaving more families on the road out of Kabul.

"Right now, the bombings have hit Taliban and military installations in the city," says this man. "Civilian houses have also been destroyed, and I don't know how many casualties there were."

This child tells us how hard it was to walk across the mountains from Kabul. Her mother said all of the children were crying. They trekked for hours and were all exhausted. Their hope is the latest round of fighting will in some way end this country's ongoing conflict.

After years of this, few Afghans believe they'll ever be at peace.

So as the human cost mounts, the battle for Afghanistan continues to gather pace, and with first snowfall here expected in just weeks, there is a growing sense of urgency that matters be resolved on both fronts.

Matthew Chance, CNN, Northern Afghanistan.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

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