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CNN Live At Daybreak

America Strikes Back: Northern Alliance Prepares for Offensive

Aired October 11, 2001 - 07:48   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.
ZAHN: As we move on up to about 10 minutes before the hour, we travel to northern Afghanistan, where CNN's Matthew Chance is standing by in Jebal and is watching the Northern Alliance preparing for an offensive with Kabul as its major target -- Matthew, good morning. What's the latest from there?

MATTHEW CHANCE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: That's right, Paula.

Well, we're not sure exactly when that offensive is going to take place, but certainly officials of the Northern Alliance say it is their long-term military strategy to take the road fully that leads from their positions here in north of Afghanistan through to the Afghan capital, Kabul.

There has been some frustrations expressed by front line commanders on that front line north of Kabul with the U.S.-led air strikes, that those air strikes have concentrated mainly on targets deep inside Afghanistan and not on the front line positions they're fighting every night. Of course, there have been very intensive bombardments of the capital, Kabul. You can see those pictures from the video phone that we've been taking with the night scope on overlooking Kabul. You can't see Kabul itself, of course. It's blocked by that mountain range I mentioned earlier. But look at the glows into the sky over that very intense bombardment there.

The Northern Alliance front line commanders say they've also been carrying out attacks not on Kabul itself, but on the front line positions of the Taliban. What they're looking for is some kind of close air support from Washington to enable them to take out those positions of the Taliban over the mountains overlooking Kabul, to give them a run right the way through to the Afghan capital. It's not clear, though, yet, that Washington is going to assist them, at least publicly in that aim, although the very fact that they're bombing military targets inside of Afghanistan now, according to the Pentagon, is a help and is being welcomed by the Northern Alliance.

ZAHN: Matthew, you say they may not be publicly supported by the U.S., but privately what is going on?

CHANCE: Well, they're not telling us what's going on privately in short. What they are saying is that there are daily contacts with officials of the United States. That they are coordinating their military strategy closely. They're not giving us any details about exactly what is being discussed. Obviously what they want -- they tell us privately what they want -- is this close air support to take out those front line Taliban positions.

What they say they can give in exchange is at the very least some intelligence gathering capability. Remember, no one has more experience of fighting the Taliban than the fighters of the Northern Alliance. They have experience of fighting them, they have experience of fighting in this very mountainous, rugged terrain. And that's something, the experience, they could pass on, they say, to the United States if it wants that kind of information -- Paula.

ZAHN: Matthew Chance, thanks so much for that update. We'll be checking in with you throughout the day.

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