Return to Transcripts main page
American Morning
Where and What is Mazar-e-Sharif?
Aired November 09, 2001 - 11:05 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.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: More on this town, now. It's importance and what it is. Mazar-e-Sharif
Kyra Phillips tracking that over at the big board, Kyra?.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: That's right, Bill, thank you so much. Well the Northern Alliance officials say that they are in the process of taking control of Mazar-e-Sharif. And earlier today the Taliban claimed that the Northern Alliance was getting close to the city, and that American strike fighters carpet-bombing areas south of the city in an effort to support group movement or ground movements, rather.
Opposition forces say U.S. airstrikes have been a key factor in this battle for the strategically important city in northern Afghanistan. Here's the view of actually one of the strikes from the cockpit of an American combat aircraft. Now, Mazar-e-Sharif was seized by the Taliban in 1998. I'm going give you a little bit of history here.
And if the Northern Alliance can regain control of this city, it would allow an unbroken line of communication with Uzbekistan to the north. Mazar-e-Sharif is located about 35 miles from the Uzbekistan border. Now, during the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan the Russians built a bridge linking these two countries, but since the airstrikes began, the bridge has been closed to hold off an anticipated flood of refugees.
Now, a little bit more about Mazar-e-Sharif. It is Afghanistan's second largest city, and has a very important religious shrine. The Blue Mosque, it's held out to be the place where the -- where Kalif Ali, the prophet Mohammed's son-in-law is actually entombed. You're taking a closer look at the city, and keep in mind, this is an older map of city that we have, but it does give you a sense of the size of it.
The United Nations puts the population at around 150,000 people. I don't think we're get -- are we going to get that map -- there's the map right there. Mazar-e-Sharif was known, at one time, for its carpet trade and for lambs and horses. It was also the scene of a number of alleged human right violations when the Taliban took control of the city just three years ago.
Now, as the Northern Alliance, allied forces and the Taliban continue to fight over this area, its military importance is an obvious one. But there could be a psychological importance here to controlling the city, and that is Mazar-e-Sharif stands as the last major city seized by the Taliban in their final drive to seize control over Afghanistan. Bill?
HEMMER: All right, Kyra, thanks. Kyra Phillips. And the latest from there.
We're going to talk momentarily here with Retired General David Grange from Chicago. We will -- we'll pick his brain in a minute here to figure more out strategically, from the military standpoint, about this town, this location, and indeed if the claims are verified, what it could mean for the campaign going forward.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: More on this town, now. It's importance and what it is. Mazar-e-Sharif
Kyra Phillips tracking that over at the big board, Kyra?.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: That's right, Bill, thank you so much. Well the Northern Alliance officials say that they are in the process of taking control of Mazar-e-Sharif. And earlier today the Taliban claimed that the Northern Alliance was getting close to the city, and that American strike fighters carpet-bombing areas south of the city in an effort to support group movement or ground movements, rather.
Opposition forces say U.S. airstrikes have been a key factor in this battle for the strategically important city in northern Afghanistan. Here's the view of actually one of the strikes from the cockpit of an American combat aircraft. Now, Mazar-e-Sharif was seized by the Taliban in 1998. I'm going give you a little bit of history here.
And if the Northern Alliance can regain control of this city, it would allow an unbroken line of communication with Uzbekistan to the north. Mazar-e-Sharif is located about 35 miles from the Uzbekistan border. Now, during the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan the Russians built a bridge linking these two countries, but since the airstrikes began, the bridge has been closed to hold off an anticipated flood of refugees. >
