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CNN Live At Daybreak

Concerns That Taliban Will Be Replaced With Another Violent Regime

Aired November 19, 2001 - 06:19   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.
DONNA KELLEY, CNN ANCHOR: The collapse of the Taliban creating a political vacuum in other parts of Afghanistan. In the eastern province of Jalalabad, the former governor and other leaders are jockeying for power. And CNN's Bill Delaney says there is concern that one violent regime could be replaced by another.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BILL DELANEY, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Armed against the dark in the eastern provinces of Afghanistan, a few days after the bloodless end of Taliban authority there. A calm changeover, though, that could yet end in blood.

With factions now competing for power, a security force needed just to drive in from Pakistan to the capital of Nangarhar Province, Jalalabad, where by daylight, fighters from factions gathered outside the Nangarhar's governor's mansion as leaders met. The province's new governor, Haji Abdul Kadir, was the pre-Taliban governor.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Do you want to help the Afghanistan?

HAJI ABDUL KADIR, EX-GOVERNOR: A good relation with each other and not see any problem for the security.

DELANEY: Though the governor called for U.S. coalition help, like ammunition, to root out at least 1,500 Arab fighters, still loyal to the Taliban, believed hold up in the eastern province's White Mountains?

(on camera): In trying to create a clear authority here, the realities of a place like Jalalabad are a warning. Even many factional leaders here, who always opposed the Taliban, also always had many Taliban supporters in their ranks.

(voice-over): What's changed, then, in the eastern provinces? The Taliban is not in charge anymore, custom remains and power is still simply what matters.

On Cotton Street in Jalalabad, routines that predated the Taliban, now outlive them. And though most on camera said they expected better days, as many said off camera, they expected a return to pre-Taliban factional violence.

Most everyone agreed on the international, not any kind of local help, would get them through the winter.

This man saying, "For 23 years now, there has been war in Afghanistan. We don't have any food, no roof over our heads."

The Northern Alliance may be in control of most of Afghanistan now. In the countries east, though, they're not in control at all, and neither is anyone else.

Bill Delaney, CNN, Jalalabad, Afghanistan.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

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