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CNN Live At Daybreak
America Strikes Back: Latest Barrage of Firepower Comes as Powell Meets in Pakistan with President Musharraf
Aired October 16, 2001 - 07:25 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: And welcome back at 25 minutes after the hour. American planes have pounded the Taliban stronghold of Kandahar. And a new weapon in these air strikes, an AC130 specter gunship (ph), which has a side firing cannon that can be devastating against ground troops. The Arab news station Al Jazeera is reporting that five people were killed in the attack on Kandahar.
The latest barrage of firepower came as U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell met in Pakistan with President Musharraf.
CNN's Walter Rodgers is in the Pakistani capital with the latest -- Walter, good morning.
WALTER RODGERS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Paula.
Secretary of State Colin Powell and Pakistan's President Pervez Musharraf emerged from their closed door meeting, both men expressing the hope that the U.S.-led bombing campaign against the Taliban in Afghanistan hopefully will not need to go on that much longer. This despite the intensification of the bombing you were reporting a few moments ago.
What's important to remember here is that both Washington and Islamabad are looking over their shoulder at the Islamic street, feeling pressure from the Islamic street both here in Pakistan and also elsewhere in the Middle East, particularly among Arab countries, where there is no love lost for the U.S. at this particular hour.
President Musharraf has a particularly difficult road to hoe at this point. He's walking a knife's edge between his newfound friends in the United States and the anti-terrorist coalition and his Muslim critics in this part of the world.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
PRESIDENT PERVEZ MUSHARRAF, PAKISTAN: Durable peace in Afghanistan would only be possible through the establishment of a broad-based, multi-ethnic government representing the demographic contours of Afghanistan, freely chosen by the Afghans without outside interference. Former King Zahid Shah, political leaders, moderate Taliban leaders, elements from the Northern Alliance, tribal elders, Afghans living outside their country, all can play a role in this regard. (END VIDEO CLIP)
RODGERS: Secretary Powell's role in this diplomatic mission here was somewhat different. He came to boost President Musharraf's stock. Remember, Pakistan and Musharraf had been ostracized for nearly two years from the international community because Musharraf came to power via a military coup. The West, and particularly the United States, needs Pakistan once again. So Secretary Powell's mission here was in point of fact to tell Pakistan, and particularly President Musharraf, you're our friend and we need you once again.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
COLIN POWELL, SECRETARY OF STATE: This isn't just a temporary spike in our relationship, but we believe as a result of the actions taken by Pakistan over the last five weeks we truly are at the beginning of a strengthened relationship, a relationship that will grow and thrive in the months and years ahead. We have had good talks today on how to build on our current excellent cooperation against international terrorism. The United States views that what we are building here, as I just said, is a solid foundation for a long-term and improved relationship. I expressed our thanks to President Musharraf for his bold and courageous actions as part of the global coalition against international terrorism.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
RODGERS: Secretary Powell's next stop is not far from here, across the border into India. There he is trying to tamp down a new outbreak of fighting between India and Pakistan. Last night, Indian forces fired across the border into Pakistan. Many in this part of the world see that as a diplomatic signal from India to try to keep the issue of Kashmir, that is the disputed territory of Kashmir claimed by both India and Pakistan, front and center and the Indians, again, trying to be certain that their claims to Kashmir are not eclipsed by the U.S.' newfound friendship with Pakistan and the war against the Taliban in Afghanistan -- Paula.
ZAHN: Walter, thank you very much.
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