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CNN Live At Daybreak

Role Tribal Leaders Might Have Played in Western Aid Workers Release

Aired November 15, 2001 - 07:26   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: Good morning and welcome back at 26 minutes after the hour.

We have been telling you all morning long about the release of eight Western aid workers. We know, or we're beginning to understand what role U.S. special forces played in the release.

But let's turn now to Sheila MacVicar, who joins us from Quetta, Pakistan, who now has some insights into the role tribal leaders might have played in their release -- Sheila, good morning.

SHEILA MacVICAR, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Paula.

Well, indeed, as the city of Kabul fell, as the city of Kabul fell, there was a great deal of confusion, obviously. The jail was apparently opened and as those aid workers came out in the streets, they came into contact or were taken to some commander, a tribal leader of some kind in Kabul, who basically took control of them and then arranged to get them out safely.

Now, all of this coming about and obviously that meant connections and contacts somehow, either through Pakistan or other sources, ultimately with Americans to be able to deliver them to an air field where they could be picked up safely.

Now, all of this coming about at a time when we are beginning to see a lot of pressure being put on those Pashtun ethnic commanders, currently Taliban commanders, trying to persuade them that now is the moment, they must switch allegiance, they must join up with those other tribal leaders and commanders who are now with the king and that in order to avert further bloodshed. It's a pretty stark choice that's being offered now. There are discussions and meetings taking place later today and again tomorrow, and ultimately it will determine, perhaps, whether the Pashtun tribes go to war against each other or whether there can be some quick solution brought for peace -- Paula.

ZAHN: Sheila, I don't know -- yes, Sheila, I know you're getting feedback.

MACVICAR: Sorry, Paula. I couldn't hear. Try again.

ZAHN: Yes, I know you're getting feedback here. I'll try to keep this as simple as possible. What is the expectation of what kind of reconciliation might be reached between these Pashtun tribes?

MACVICAR: Well, the Pashtuns are ethnically the most dominant group, both in Afghanistan and within the Taliban. What is concentrating all minds here are the very strong military gains made by the Northern Alliance. The Northern Alliance, which is not Pashtun, holds at least 50 percent of Afghanistan, some reports say as much as 80 percent of Afghanistan. The Pashtun tribal leaders and elders who have not been allied to the Taliban are saying enough is enough, we have to stop this, we have to end this bloodshed, we have to work towards restoring peace and restoring one nation, one Afghanistan, one broad-based representative government.

So they're saying to the Taliban commanders -- and remember, a lot of these Taliban commanders and these anti-Taliban commanders are, in some cases, brothers, cousins, ties of blood, loyalty and family, they're saying OK, now is the moment, switch allegiance now, join us or you will meet us on the battlefield.

ZAHN: Sheila MacVicar, thank you so much for that update.

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