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American Morning

While Coalition Forces Hunting Through Caves For Enemy, Afghan Army Pursuing Another Offensive

Aired May 22, 2002 - 07:25   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: Now on to the war in Afghanistan. The U.S. military command says air strikes have neutralized a group of suspected militants while they were setting up a mortar position near an allied camp in eastern Afghanistan. And while coalition forces continue hunting through caves for al Qaeda and Taliban fighters, the Afghan army is also pursuing another offensive; once considered very important to the country's stability.

Anderson Cooper has that report.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ANDERSON COOPER, CNN ANCHOR (voice-over): General Abdul Rahman (ph), an Afghan commander, is about to ask a group of fighters to do what was once unthinkable here. He wants them to give up their guns.

"You rescued our country from invasion," he tells them. "First by Russians, then by terrorists. Now it's time to store away your weapons."

For four months now, the interim administration of Afghanistan has been trying to ensure stability and security by disarming the heavily armed population of this nation. After 23 years of bloodshed and bullets, garrisons and guns, no one could even guess how many weapons there even are.

"This gun looks small," this man says, "but it's killed a lot of Taliban. It's a very good gun." "When you fire this rocket," he says, "it shakes the world."

Many Afghans are proud of their guns but weary of war. 33-year- old Abdul Kaleel (ph) says he has fought most of his life. "Our country is secure," he says. "What need do we now have of our weapons?"

"You see these mujahadeen," General Rahman (ph) says, "they're bringing their weapons voluntarily. We hope that throughout all Afghanistan we can persuade and encourage all people to turn in their weapons." Today, some 300 weapons are taken, registered, then stored.

(on camera): The interim administration here says they've disarmed the population in at least seven of Afghanistan's 30 provinces. Exactly what that means, however, is very difficult to tell. Even if a person hands over one weapon, in Afghanistan it is not uncommon for them to have several more weapons hidden at home.

(voice-over): So the administration here says it's ready to take more drastic measures. "First we voluntarily collect the guns," General Rahman (ph) says. "After that, anyone found with a gun will be disarmed and that man will be punished."

There has already been bloodshed. This anti-aircraft missile was found buried in the ground. When its owners resisted its confiscation, one was killed; two others arrested.

These men have an incentive to turn over their guns. They want to be part of Afghanistan's new army. Give up a gun, they hope to get a job. Besides, they say, in Afghanistan more weapons can always be found.

"Have you seen a knife? Give me a knife," this man says. "At the beginning of our jihad we killed our enemies with this weapon and we captured their guns. Anyone who invades are country again, we'll kill them the same way."

Even if individuals give up their guns, many warlords will not. They have private armies, personal agendas. The problem is complex, the equation simple. In a lawless land, a gun equals power. And that is something many Afghans are unwilling to surrender.

Anderson Cooper, CNN, Kabul, Afghanistan.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

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