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CNN Live At Daybreak

Taliban Negotiating Surrender of Spin Boldak

Aired November 27, 2001 - 05:11   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: Let's go over to our Nic Robertson. He is at a border crossing in Pakistan. Of course, the U.S. marines have landed in southern Afghanistan now -- Nic, tell us what's going on there right now and how strong the Taliban remain.

NIC ROBERTSON, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Donna, that's a very key question, just how strong are they. We're told by Pakistani border officials that even as late as last night the Taliban were negotiating the surrender of the border town just behind me, the border town of Spin Boldak. However, they are still in control of it. The Taliban have not yet relinquished control of the town and we don't know why at this stage.

We've also talked with travelers today who have been coming from the city of Kandahar. They report that there is now a major detour on the highway between Kandahar and the border. The road now takes six hours instead of three hours to travel, the reason being a strategic town on that road, the town of Tactapol (ph), is no longer in the hands of the Taliban. Differing reasons, we are told, for why that is so. Taliban officials say that that town now controlled by U.S. troops. The local tribal leaders say that they now control that town. But certainly one chunk of Kandahar province an hour's drive from Kandahar no longer, now a no go zone for the Taliban.

However, the people leaving Kandahar today do tell us that for the majority of the rest of the route that it appears to be very much in Taliban control, although they don't see many Taliban fighters.

The other thing we're hearing about the situation in Kandahar is there is a growing sense of unease now about how the situation will play out. The fact that there are now U.S. troops on the ground close to Kandahar is giving the people of that city some cause for concern -- Donna.

KELLEY: At the Chaman border crossing in Pakistan, our Nic Robertson, thanks very much.

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