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CNN Sunday Morning

Fighting Intensifies in Northern Afghanistan

Aired September 23, 2001 - 08:03   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: Overseas now, fighting said to have intensified in northern Afghanistan. The Northern Alliance said to be advancing in its battle with the Taliban militia. The Northern Alliance foreign minister says his forces have taken over two towns, both in the Balkh province.

Fighting has increased as Afghanistan faces the prospect of a possible U.S. military strike. The Taliban last week rejected President Bush's demand to hand over suspected terrorist Osama bin Laden, said to be based in Afghanistan.

Also, the U.S. rewarding Pakistan for its cooperation in the U.S. showdown. President Bush has lifted sanctions there that were imposed against Pakistan and India back in June of 1998. To Islamabad now, CNN's Christiane Amanpour. And, Christiane, a question: what is the significance -- what is the difference, the lifting of these sanctions could mean to that country?

CHRISTIANE AMANPOUR, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, certainly the finance minister here is welcoming this lifting of some of the sanctions and analysts say this could have a huge effect and impact on Pakistan, whose economy has really been in the doldrums for years now.

It will open the way to investments and to all sorts of economic revival that this country so desperately needs. And, of course, the United States, at this time needing to have a strong Pakistani government and a strong society and a revived economy in as much as possible so that it gives the government here ammunition with which to stand with the United States.

That decision is controversial. There have again been protests in Pakistan today, most notably in Quetta, near the border with Afghanistan. One of the hard line Muslim extremist groups here has held another rally and it is saying that its people and move them to the border of Afghanistan and try to help defend Afghanistan in case of any attack there. Of course, this group is very pro-Taliban.

There was the ritual burning of American flags and chanting of anti-American slogans, but despite their threats, people are saying that all the leaders of the religious groups have spoken with the president and have assured him that they will not allow these demonstrations to boil out of control. It remains to be seen as this crisis progresses whether that will remain the case. HEMMER: Christiane, when we see this video tape back here in the U.S., give us a better understanding. Sometimes, we have heard reports anyway, that the gatherings of protesters have not attracted nearly as many protesters as the organizers would have liked.

From your position there, how much do we know about the protesters who have turned out? Are the turnouts disappointing or not?

AMANPOUR: Well, yes, according to all the people we've talked to and according to the build up, really, before these demonstrations. People were expecting sort of nationwide mass protests, and this did not materialize.

Indeed, according to the figures, and it's impossible to count every last person who is at a protest, but according to the official figures, it was somewhere in the hundred thousand range on Friday, which was basically the main day of nationwide protests that are being called. And that is very, very much smaller than in previous years and during previous domestic crises, where more people have come out onto the streets.

HEMMER: All right, Christiane. Christiane Amanpour from Islamabad. More coming up throughout the day there.

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