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CNN Live At Daybreak

India-Pakistan Conflict May Effect War on Terror

Aired January 03, 2002 - 06:05   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 other news the U.S. has a major stake in the military developments near the India-Pakistan border. The U.S.-led war on terrorism may hinge on whether the two nuclear neighbors go to war. CNN's Jeff Levine joins us now live from the Pentagon with more on that developing story -- good morning, Jeff.

JEFF LEVINE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning Carol. Well indeed, there is concern here that the growing conflict between India and Pakistan could actually hurt the war on terrorism - now here's why. If Pakistan moves some of its troops from the Afghan border, that could make it easier for Osama bin Laden and his allies to sneak away. Now right now Pakistani soldiers and Indian troops are on high alert along the line of control in Kashmir. India and Pakistan have actually fought three wars since 1947.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We're watching very closely the tensions that exist between the two countries and we're very hopeful that they'll exercise judgment and prudence in not getting engaged with each other. But at this moment I would say there's no concerns about what their forces are doing.

LEVINE: Meanwhile President Bush has been keeping a close eye on the situation from his ranch in Crawford, Texas. The president has enlisted British Prime Minister Tony Blair for his help in diffusing the crisis. Now Mr. Bush has talked with Tony Blair over the phone. We understand that took about 10 minutes, but the idea was that the two would come up with some sort of strategy to cool off the tensions in South Asia.

Prime Minister Blair is on his way to that South Asia summit and hopefully he can intervene, but of course cooling things off in that region is going to be extremely difficult - Carol.

LIN: A major diplomatic challenger there. Jeff, in other news over in Afghanistan you heard about the Special Forces' raid on that compound as they search for Mullah Omar. Now that they've had a chance to sift through some of the things that they found in that compound, where do they think he is?

LEVINE: Well I'd have to say honestly that they're still searching. They don't know if he's in the Tora Bora region. Let's say perhaps he's buried under rubble; perhaps he's sneaked away to Pakistan; or perhaps he's still in Afghanistan. The approach really is twofold Carol. What the - what the United States would like to do at the very least negotiate for Omar's release. Some of the tribal leaders in Afghanistan are working with the Taliban leaders or those that are left of the Taliban leaders to arrange for some sort of surrender, if that's possible, if not, then there's the military option, of course.

Special Forces are searching for Omar and presumably for Osama bin Laden. I think it's important to mention though that the Pentagon is saying that they're not looking for anybody in particular, but of course, they're looking for Taliban leadership. They would be delighted to find either Mullah Omar or Osama bin Laden. They continue to look.

LIN: All right. Thank you very much. Jeff Levine with the latest from the Pentagon this morning.

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