Return to Transcripts main page

American Morning

Target: Terrorism - Aid to Afghanistan

Aired October 04, 2001 - 11:11   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.
MILES O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: Again, one of the big story we're watching this morning is the president's announcement that U.S. aide well over $300 million now, earmarked for the Afghan people. Some help already arriving for the Afghan refugees, but as one can imagine, the situation there is still desperate at this time.

For the latest on the situation inside the country, live to CNN's Chris Burns who is in Northern Afghanistan with more there.

Chris, hello.

CHRIS BURNS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hello, Bill. Well, first of all, of course, positive reaction from the Northern Alliance to President Bush's call for more -- for funding for humanitarian action here.

Dr. Abdullah Abdullah, who's the Foreign Minister for the Northern Alliance, says that he welcomes that declaration and he hopes that a significant portion goes to the area controlled by the Northern Alliance; because he says that if fighting does break out, if the U.S. does attack in southern Afghanistan where the Taliban are, that could cause a huge exodus of people toward the north, especially if neighboring countries have closed their borders. He says there could be a disastrous humanitarian situation.

That of course being aggravated by fighting that is going on now, scattered fighting on various fronts in the north, near the -- inside the province of Takhar. We saw some fighting the last couple of days, artillery, machine guns, mortars. The thousands of troops on either side, on various fronts in the east. That's Takhar in the east, as well as in the north and in the west.

Not far from here today, in fact, what we believe was a Taliban Mig fighter jet flew over our heads, and not far away is the front line between here and Kabul. It dropped a bomb near the front line. No significant damage reporter, no casualties reported, but it does show you how tense the situation is right now, where both sides are anticipating the U.S. to act. And the Northern Alliance, of course hoping that the U.S., any U.S. action help in their campaign to get to Kabul, the capital Kabul, and setup a government there along with other various factions.

The Foreign Minister Dr. Abdullah Abdullah has been waging his own personal campaign, trying to gather support; and he hopes that he can get more international support.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

(voice-over): Morning in the Panjshir Valley, the last battleground during the Soviet occupation two decades ago.

Another daily battle begins here at the home of Dr. Abdullah Abdullah, foreign minister and voice of the united front, the so called Northern Alliance the Taliban ousted from power five years ago.

A former surgeon fighting to gain elusive international respect and support for his struggling movement. Courting and accommodating a booming media presence. Dr. Abdullah stops at the grave of commander Ahmed Shah Massoud, the Lion of Panjshir who fought the Soviets. The Alliance's charismatic leader assassinated two days before the terrorist strikes in the United States. It's widely believed the attacks are linked.

Then it's a helicopter trip over the western edge of the Himalayans to the northern city of Farkhar. First news conference of the day in Khozhe Boudin (ph), near the Tajik border. He heads for a key meeting with a U.N. envoy to Afghanistan, Francis Vendrell presses the Northern Alliance and other Afghan factions to form a coalition government.

And how soon could U.S. airstrikes come?

DR. ABDULLAH ABDULLAH, FOREIGN MINISTER, NORTHERN ALLIANCE: The reaction by the international alliance will be soon. By soon, I mean it's -- Afghan soon is anytime from now until...

(LAUGHTER)

But, this is all a matter of days, a matter of days. This is my sense, this is my feeling.

BURNS: At the end of another day, Dr. Abdullah the surgeon hopes he has made some headway in his fight.

ABDULLAH: The nation is wounded, the country is wounded, and is about to die. As an Afghan, as a person who loves his country, one has two choices: To abandon the country or to do something for it. To get to the bigger wounds healed.

BURNS: Wounds likely to require more surgery before they can mend.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

(on camera): So far, no major U.S. support for the Northern Alliance, so that is causing some frustration among figures like Dr. Abdullah.

Bill?

HEMMER: Chris Burns reporting from northern Afghanistan. Chris, thanks.

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