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American Morning
America Strikes Back: Opposition Leader Abdul Haq Killed in Afghanistan
Aired October 26, 2001 - 09:20 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 ZAHN, CNN ANCHOR: In Afghanistan today, U.S. coalition strike forces continue to pound away at military positions, while on the ground, fighting between the Northern Alliance and the Taliban builds.
CNN's Walter Rodgers is following the action, and he has other updates for us now. He joins us from Islamabad, Pakistan -- Walter.
Walter, thank you, what's the latest from there?
WALTER RODGERS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hello.
Paula, the latest from here is that a leading opposition figure, an anti-Taliban figure has been executed. CNN has been told by the Taliban foreign ministry in Kandahar that Abdul Haq was executed today. It had been reported, and CNN had been told by Pakistani sources that Abdul Haq went across the border recently, into Afghanistan, as a representative of the deposed Afghan King Zahir Shah. He went there, also, it is presumed, perhaps to rally anti- Taliban opposition.
The Taliban had been broadcasting on its radio stations before the bombing began that anyone who came speaking kindly of deposed King Zahir Shah would be guilty of treason. There are now reports from the Taliban foreign ministry that Abdul Haq was captured has now been executed.
This is an extraordinarily devastating and psychological diplomatic blow for the West, who had been placing its bets on Abdul Haq, hoping that he might rally the anti-Taliban support. It also is a very powerful statement on the part of the Taliban itself, that it is going to deal ruthlessly with anyone who challenges its power in Afghanistan.
Shortly before the news of the announcement of the death, Abdul Haq's brother explained why Abdul Haq took the risk and went into Afghanistan.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
HAJID BIN MOHAMMAD, BROTHER OF ABDUL HAQ: He was in close contact with all Afghan leaders, in all people of the top level and the middle who were in Pakistan, Afghanistan, and abroad. So he was working very hard to find a peaceful solution.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
RODGERS: Meanwhile, on the military front, U.S. jets struck the Afghan capitol of Kabul again today, on this the Muslim day of prayer. Bombs also blasted a Red Cross compound in the Kabul area for the second time. That Taliban had previously been parking military vehicles close to that Red Cross building, to shield themselves. "The Associated Press" is reporting that three Afghan children were killed in that bombing attack.
Close to three weeks after the U.S. bombing began, the Taliban has allowed a popular demonstration on the streets of Kandahar. This is not something the Taliban usually permits, but it suggests that instead of demoralizing the Taliban, the U.S. bombing raid has had a backlash effect and is bringing Afghans together again, against the latest invader, this time, the United States.
And there have been no major defections against the Taliban. The Taliban has, after close to three weeks of bombing, not lost any ground; indeed, it survives as a very viable force controlling Afghanistan, to this point -- Paula.
ZAHN: Walter, you talked about what a devastating blow the death of Abdul Haq would be to the coalition or any of the other folks involved with an effort to create a post-Taliban government. What exactly does it mean in terms of a strategy now?
RODGERS: That is a fine question, Paula. It means the West probably doesn't have any strategy. The United States, Britain, and Pakistan, for that matter, were placing their bets on Abdul Haq, and they don't have anybody else. We heard fears from Afghan tribal leaders yesterday of a power vacuum. If there was a power vacuum before Abdul Haq was captured and executed, there is an even bigger one now. It means the Taliban remains firmly in the driver's seat, and the allied hopes of creating an alternative to the Taliban simply have to start from ground zero all over again -- Paula.
ZAHN: If this alternative government is to work, doesn't have it to reflect the widely varied ethnic makeup of Afghanistan?
RODGERS: Absolutely, true, but while United States had been early predicting and hoping that there would be defections from the Taliban ranks, the bombing has had a backlash effect, and it is perhaps reunifying the Afghan people in support of the Taliban against, once again, a foreign enemy, this time the United States. There, currently, is no alternative, to the Taliban on anybody's radar screen -- Paula.
ZAHN: Walter Rodgers, you had a lot of information to cover. Thank you for traveling so much territory for this morning.
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