Return to Transcripts main page

American Morning

America Under Attack: Taliban Spiritual Leader Speaks to Afghans

Aired September 14, 2001 - 11:37   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.
DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: We understand that in just the last hour or so one of the spiritual leaders of the Taliban has spoken out in Afghanistan.

And we have our own Nic Robertson who is standing by in Kabul Afghanistan.

Nic, can you tell us about what this spiritual leader had to say, please?

NIC ROBERTSON, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Absolutely, Daryn. And it was a very spiritual message. It was a rallying message in this time of adversity that the Taliban certainly foresees is coming upon them here.

He talked, he said addressed himself not only to the people of Afghanistan but to all Muslims. In his speech, again, he talked about how they believe Osama bin Laden was innocent of what he was being possibly accused of.

He also talked about Afghanistan's history. He said in the past we were invaded by the British empire in the last century, twice he said. He said there was no Osama bin Laden at that time and no Taliban. So he said to the people, why did that happen? He talked about the Russian invasion in the 1980, the 10-year Soviet occupation of Afghanistan. He talked about that.

But really he focused on the spiritual element in face of adversity. He told the people to have trust in their faith, to have trust in Allah, and if they were good Muslims they would be very powerful and that they would be strong in this time of adversity.

He also went on to say wasn't doing this for his own safety and security, he said he didn't mind if he was killed, that wasn't important, what he was doing was telling everyone that it's for the sake of Islam, not for his own safety. It was very much a rallying speech, and certainly, that this time, everyone in Afghanistan very, very apprehensive about what could be coming next, Daryn.

KAGAN: Nic, did he mention the United States in that speech?

ROBERTSON: Yes, he did, again, talking about the United States and Osama bin Laden's role in the terrorist attack, explaining again how Osama bin Laden couldn't have been involved in it. He say Osama bin Laden was just a poor refugee, one man living in Afghanistan, and what happened in the United States, he said, was far too complex for one man to have organized. This is what the Taliban had been saying for the last several days.

Yesterday, they put in the form that Osama bin Laden couldn't have trained so many pilots. Today it's been in the form of, it was a complex operation using telephones, faxes, et cetera, communications they say he doesn't have. So very much they're putting -- trying to put across the case and to their people and to the international community their case that Osama bin Laden was not involved.

And he also addressed Pakistan, a reference to those outside the country trying to influence Afghanistan. He said, if they're not standing here with us in the face of this danger, then how can we take their advice. And this was very clearly aimed at Pakistan, who ambassadors have been delivering messages, at least one message to our knowledge, to the Taliban.

KAGAN: Nic Robertson in Kabul, Afghanistan.

Nic, thank you very much. We hope to have the opportunity to check back with you.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com