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CNN Live Event/Special

America Under Attack: What Cooperation Will Pakistan Give

Aired September 14, 2001 - 01:32   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.
COLLEEN MCEDWARDS, CNN ANCHOR: Pakistan has been put in what you might call a unique position by this week's events. Islamabad has pledged to support the United States, but Washington wants proof.

Tom Mintier has been monitoring the situation for us in Pakistan. He joins us now live with more.

Tom to what extent can cooperation from Pakistan be counted on?

TOM MINTIER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well Colleen, that's a $64 million question right now. The U.S. state department has heard the words. Now they want to see the deeds.

They have heard the Pakistani president promise complete support, but they're also looking down below that first level of government into the military, into the security intelligence apparatus, how much support, how much information are they going to get from them.

The ISI, the Inter Service Intelligence operation here indeed has a lot of information about bin Laden. As you heard earlier, you know, the movement of bin Laden just after the attack on the United States to a new location. That came out of Pakistani intelligence sources.

So the promises have been made. There have been requests by the U.S. government to the Pakistanis to hold up the supply of fuel into Afghanistan to have bin Laden supporters suppressed in their movements in Pakistan. Basically the United States is asking a lot and we'll have to wait and see how much of what they're asking for is delivered.

Now, if and when there is any type of military action, air strikes, the Pakistani air space would be important. It was closed this morning as the Pakistani military was using the sky. They grounded all civilian flights for several hours. People were stranded at airports all across Pakistan. I just saw about 10 minutes ago a large jet liner of -- leaving here in Islamabad. So the air space is indeed open once again and there are meetings going on within the government and within the military about what to do next, what steps to take to offer this cooperation that the Pakistani president has promised.

Colleen?

MCEDWARDS: All right. Tom Mintier, thanks very much.

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