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CNN Live At Daybreak
Bin Laden Believed to Be in Tora Bora; U.S. Embassy in Kabul Reopens
Aired December 17, 2001 - 06:01 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.
CAROL LIN, CNN ANCHOR: In the meantime, Walt Rodgers standing by in eastern Afghanistan near the mountains of Tora Bora. The hunt for Osama bin Laden continues.
And, Walt, we've been hearing discrepancies about whether this man has actually crossed the border into Pakistan, or if he's still up in those mountains. What do you know?
WALTER RODGERS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hello, Carol.
Well, the information we're getting is that, as of two days ago, Osama bin Laden was still believed to be in the Tora Bora mountain range complex, which you see behind me, oh, seven or eight miles in the distance.
This information is coming from captured al Qaeda fighters -- two Saudis, an Iraqi, and one from Qatar. They have told CNN that, as of two days ago, they believe -- that is, Saturday -- they believe that Osama bin Laden was still up in those mountains.
They did not say what evidence they had of that, and they were captured, taken prison yesterday along with some other 30 Arab prisoners who had been fighting with al Qaeda, with Osama bin Laden here.
They were taken, as I say, over the weekend and they are now being interrogated by the Eastern Alliance commanders here to see if any additional information can be gleaned on the whereabouts of Osama bin Laden.
It should be noted, there was extremely heavy bombing in the Tora Bora mountain range last night. That strongly suggests, U.S. military commanders believe there are at least some remnants of al Qaeda, of al Qaeda, up in those mountains.
They also believe that perhaps bin Laden may also be with some of his fighters. The bombing went on throughout the day. We've heard sporadic blasts.
One thing interesting, however, is that the frontline is moving farther and farther away from us, whereas four days ago, I would be standing three to four miles from the frontline, now that line appears to be six or seven miles over that far ridge in the distance, getting closer and closer to the Pakistani border.
That's where many believe that, if bin Laden is still in the Tora Bora region, he's headed for Pakistan or at least has a very small and much more narrow maneuvering range in that very fine strip of mountains between Afghanistan and Pakistan -- Carol.
LIN: Walt, and if he does manage to cross into Pakistan, did any of these sources tell you that he would get help on the other side of the border to escape?
RODGERS: Well, the section of Pakistan which is up against the Afghan border is the northwest frontier province. This is pure Kipling. It's the Khyber Pass. It's one of the most rugged, lawless areas in the world.
It is also a Pashtun area, and remember, the Pashtuns have been the one who -- ones who originally gave him hospitality here in Afghanistan, the Pashtun tribes.
Now, having said that, the Pakistan military has forces in that particular area, but there is a caveat here, a very important one, and that is, not even Pakistan has full control of its own territory.
So, if the al Qaeda fighters, perhaps even bin Laden, are going to make a break, that would be the safest exit they have because, as I say, that area is not even under the control of Pakistan -- total control of Pakistan -- which owns it -- Carol.
LIN: Right. All right. Thank you very much. Walt Rodgers reporting live from Tora Bora.
In the meantime, developments in Kabul, the Afghan capital. For the first time in nearly 13 years, there's an official U.S. government presence in Afghanistan.
CNN's Jim Clancy was at the U.S. embassy in Kabul today when the red, white and blue was raised.
Jim, what was it like to be there when that happened?
JIM CLANCY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, it was cold, for one thing, Carol. As you well know, here this time of year it is a bit frigid.
I was surprised to see the U.S. ambassador take off his raincoat in the drizzle outside the embassy. I think he really wanted to make a point that he was feeling warm about the experience.
And you could see all of the people that were there, the former foreign service nationals, the local Afghans, if you will, that worked for the U.S. embassy gathered around. Some of their children were there holding American flags.
It was definitely an event to be seen. Surprising, too, to see the array of leaders from the government that were here. Two of the top leaders -- the interior minister, Mr. Qanooni, and also the defense minister, Mr. Fahim -- General Fahim -- there. He had held talks with Ambassador Dobbins just the night before. We'll get to some of those matters in a moment.
But the U.S. flag going up over that embassy compound for the first time in 12 going on 13 years, and it was the very same standard that had been lowered on January the 30th, 1989, on that same flag staff.
So, a moment here where there was a commitment -- a commitment not only to the economic future of this country, but the diplomatic and political future, as well.
On that note, Ambassador Dobbins stressed the importance of the incoming government and U.S. support for it.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JAMES DOBBINS, U.S. SPECIAL ENVOY TO AFGHANISTAN: This new Afghan government will be led by a new generation of Afghan leaders, who have a historic opportunity to lead Afghanistan into a new era. As they do so, they can be assured that the United States will be there with them.
With the reopening of the United States mission in Kabul today, America has resumed its diplomatic, economic and political engagement with this country. We are here, and we are here to stay.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CLANCY: Those the words of the U.S. Special Envoy to Afghanistan, James Dobbins, as he laid it out.
Now, back to one of the most pressing issues in the near term, that is the deployment of a multinational security force here in the capital, Kabul.
A lot of questions this day for the ambassador about that very issue. Would they come without a mandate to use force?
The ambassador said he had talked to General Fahim, the defense minister. He believes that everyone that is involved here is going to keep their word, that everyone wants to cooperate to see that this mission, unlike others in the past, really works -- Carol.
LIN: All right. Thank you very much, Jim Clancy. And I hope you make it home in time for Christmas. Good to see you.
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