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American Morning

Aid Workers in Afghanistan Report 10 Civilian Casualties

Aired October 19, 2001 - 10:22   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 want to check out the latest developments out of Pakistan, a key player in the U.S.-led coalition.

Our Christiane Amanpour joining us from Islamabad with the latest.

Christiane, hello.

CHRISTIANE AMANPOUR, CNN CHIEF INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Several developments here today in terms of trying to incrementally piece the picture of what's happening inside Afghanistan. Earlier today we got our first sort of independent briefing -- sources who are independent from Kabul coming out and telling reporters that they had been assessing civilian damage inside Kabul. These are local aid workers who work for an international agency.

And they told us that in two weeks of the bombing campaign, they have counted a maximum of 10 civilian casualties. This, of course, counters the claim from the Taliban, which says they lost 70 civilian casualties inside Afghanistan. But these aid workers saying only 10 deaths. Only, of course, is not the right word to use -- but just to say that it is fewer than what the Taliban have been claiming.

Now today in a press conference here in Pakistan, the Taliban ambassador admitted that the Taliban also had suffered military casualties. He wouldn't give any further details.

He claimed that their military hardware had not been severely degraded; and he claimed that the Taliban were trying to keep that hardware and whatever assets they have for what he said would be a long war. He also, again, said that Osama bin Laden is alive and well and that the Taliban would not be handing him over.

Now one other thing of very key importance that we learned from our sources who've just come outside of Kabul. They told us that they had been canvassing public opinion among the civilian population. Basically, that's part of the job of the aid workers. And they told us that the people of Kabul, the majority had supported the air campaign at the beginning, hoping that it would bring them a change in government but, that as the campaign wore on with no sign -- no public statement or declaration or explanation of what political solution people were thinking of for Afghanistan -- they're beginning to get a little worried. Earlier I just spoke to the German foreign minister, Joschka Fischer, who's standing with the United States in this war on terror. He's been talking to the Pakistanis about the political situation.

And I asked him whether anything was about to be declared.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JOSCHKA FISCHER, GERMAN FOREIGN MINISTER: For me, these meetings today, and especially also with the human caring (sic) organizations, UN organizations and NGOs, and the officials of the Pakistan government, made quite clear that there is a need now to go ahead and start with a precise implementation plan, how to go forward. But once again, it must be based on the will of the Afghan people, and therefore it must be done in a skillful and careful way.

AMANPOUR: Let me ask you about the humanitarian situation...

(END VIDEO CLIP)

AMANPOUR: Now, Fischer also admitted that there is a risk of a political vacuum -- as the military strategy proceeds apace, there is a risk of a political vacuum. And he admitted that the international community is now, quote, "under pressure to come up with a political situation." And also, just to point out that he admitted also that this was key to keeping support inside Afghanistan for this campaign.

Back to you.

KAGAN: Christiane Amanpour in Islamabad. Christiane, thank you.

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