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American Morning

America's New War: Musharraf Sees Taliban as Liability

Aired September 19, 2001 - 11:03   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.
PAULA ZAUN, CNN ANCHOR: CNN confirming at this hour that the Afghani clerics are still meeting, trying to decide how to react to the demand by Pakistan to turnover Osama bin Laden to that country or face potential military action.

Right now let's go to Christiane Amanpour, who is standing by on duty in Islamabad, Pakistan as that country gets waited -- waits to hear what President Musharraf might say in an address in just about a half hour from now.

Hi, Christiane.

CHRISTIANE AMANPOUR, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Paula, you know, the Pakistanis sent that high-level delegation to basically read the Taliban the riot act and to get them to do what the international community expects them to do. We do not know what the decision from Afghanistan is going to be. The Pakistani leadership is saying that, basically, the delegation came back empty-handed and that the Taliban would be making that decision during their meeting.

In the meantime, the president of Pakistan, in about an half an hour from now, will address the people of Pakistan. It is a taped address, an address that was taped within the last hour. And he -- that will be delivered, as I say, in about an half hour from now.

He is basically, we're told, going to be spelling out and laying out his position for why he has decided with his leadership that it is in Pakistan's interest to join the United States and the rest of the world in what is now being termed a "global coalition against terror." In order to try to come to a nationwide consensus on that, the president has been meeting for the last couple of days with the leaders and heads of all sorts of elements of society here, from religious leaders to politicians, intellectuals, academic, and also obviously his military leaders. And he has been trying to get a sense from them as to what they're thinking and tell them his assessment of the situation that Pakistan finds itself in right now.

And as I say, this speech is meant to layout, quote, "the logic of Pakistan's decision" and it's strategic decision to stand with the United States at this time -- Paula.

ZAUN: But based on what you were reporting earlier on Christiane, there have been protests, with Pakistanis saying they don't want to be involved with any effort that would ally Pakistan with the United States. Can consensus be reached on this one?

AMANPOUR: Well, what we're hearing from the leadership is that they believe that they can contain any sort of demonstrations. So far we must point out that there have been a few demonstrations, but they are isolated and they are not massive in scope. And there is a big effort underway -- and certainly Pakistan says it has employed and made sure that all sorts of security measures are in place, and that they believe they will be able to contain this.

But most importantly, they are hoping that they can in this televised address and in speeches and conferences and committee meetings, really, with, as I described, the leaders of all elements of society here, convince the people that at this particular time Pakistan needs not to be turned into a pariah state, one that is only allied with the Taliban against the rest of the world.

ZAUN: Buts nevertheless, President Musharraf can't ignore the growing Islamic movement in his country. What are the risks he is taking politically by taking this position for Pakistan?

AMANPOUR: Well, he has acknowledged that it is a risk, and to that end, that's why he called in, among other, the religious leaders, and he has answered their questions, including some objections we're told that have been raised, not just from religious leaders, but political leaders and others. And they have basically made many suggestions that maybe Pakistan should remain neutral. And apparently, the answer was, we cannot remain neutral, we have been told, and the rest of the international community has been told that either you stand with or against the United States and the international community in this matter.

As I say, it is very significant that he has been talking to religious leaders and that the assessment here is that the number of people who would actually oppose in any kind of violent way this alignment would be containable.

Also, very important to note, he is going to call, we have been told, a meeting of the tribal leaders; this of great importance because it is the tribal leaders who are basically -- are around the border with -- between Afghanistan and Pakistan and who's communities are the most likely to cause any kind of protests. He's going to meet with them, again, to spell out the very sort of situation that Pakistan finds itself in.

But more than that, he's going to spell out to the people and he's going -- he's certainly been telling those people with whom he's been meeting, that the Taliban now has become a liability for Pakistan. And their excesses have become too much Pakistan at this precise time.

ZAUN: All right, Christiane Amanpour, thank you for that update.

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