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CNN Sunday Morning

Northern Alliance Foreign Minister Discusses Fighting the Taliban

Aired September 23, 2001 - 10:15   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.
JOHN KING, CNN SENIOR WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: We want to go overseas now and bring in a guest who could be quite significant as the United States tries to build this international coalition, looks for help in a war on terrorism that at least initially, it's focused on Afghanistan. Joining us now, Abdullah Abdullah, the foreign minister of the Northern Alliance, the major opposition force within Afghanistan to the Taliban ruling militia. Thank you so much sir, for joining us today.

I wanted to ask you first, our Chris Burns who is with you in that area, has been reporting on stepped military activity by the Northern Alliance against the Taliban. Sir, are you doing this on your own or has the United States or anyone else specifically requested that you intensify the military activity at this time?

ABDULLAH ABDULLAH, FOREIGN MINISTER, NORTHERN ALLIANCE: No, we are doing this on our own. And it was a part of our strategy. After the assassination attempt against Commander Massoud, we had halted our military operations and we were totally in defensive positions for a few days.

After controlling the situation, now, we have taken initiative in northern Afghanistan by capturing Edius (ph) and liberating Edius (ph) by Taliban's side. Certainly, it would -- it would help any effort by the United States of America in an indicted manner.

KING: How do you communicate now with the United States? Are you in direct communication with State Department or Pentagon officials? Are you going through a third party?

ABDULLAH: We are not going through the third party. I can contact at any time. And we do have means of contact. I cannot go into details.

KING: We also were told that there were conversations as recently as last night between the Northern Alliance and Russian officials. Sir, tell us about those conversions. Are the Russians giving intelligence information or are you sharing information with them?

ABDULLAH: No, we -- I met with General Krushanan (ph), the chief of the army, Russian Federation in Tajikistan as well as project authorities last night and this morning. We generally discuss the issue of Afghanistan, the new situation, the new political and military situation and the dimensions of what will happen to Afghanistan in the coming days.

(OFF-MIKE)

KING: Sir, help with the -- I'm sorry. We lost our audio there. We're sorry. It's very difficult -- a very, very difficult environment to get a feed out of that part of the country. Our Chris Burns in very difficult territory. That, Abdullah Abdullah, the foreign minister of the Northern Alliance, the largest opposition group within Afghanistan.

If we can bring more of that later, we will. Right now, we're going to take a short break but stay with us on CNN's continuing coverage. More right after this.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KING: We have re-established communication, we believe, with Abdullah Abdullah, the foreign minister of the Northern Alliance, the largest opposition to the Taliban within Afghanistan.

Thank you for your patience, sir.

I want to ask you, in your conversations with the United States and if you could detail in any way -- this is such a fascinating story to our viewers, the level of those conversations -- has anyone from the United States government or any representative of the United States government told you that a goal of this operation from the U.S. standpoint is not only to target Osama Bin Laden but to remove the Taliban from power?

ABDULLAH: These are the indications, which we get from our conversations though there hasn't been any direct promise in that regard. But we can -- we can imagine that any attempt to eradicate terrorism would be all done if those forces, which had (UNINTELLIGIBLE) this situation, remain intact. This is obviously not in our point of view.

KING: Sir, help us if you will, do you -- does your organization have any intelligence on the Bin Laden organization? Do you know where he is at this moment and do you believe that he his still within Afghanistan?

ABDULLAH: Yes, I am certain -- I am quite confident that he is in Afghanistan. He is in southern part of Afghanistan and most probably, he is in Urosghan (ph) Province. He has made lots of hiding places throughout the years in that province. I believe that he, alongside Mullah Omar, the leader of the Taliban, are both hiding in Urosghan (ph) Province, which is a southern province of Afghanistan.

KING: And help us, sir, much is being made in the United States of the support of the government of Pakistan. Now, Pakistan, of course, for years has recognized the Taliban and has provided key fuel, supplies and other military equipment to the Taliban. Any indication, sir, that as it cooperates with the United States, that Pakistan has cut off ties with the Taliban in any significant way?

ABDULLAH: We have no indication as such. Even the smallest step, which Pakistan could have taken to halt or to end the recognition of Taliban or to close down the embassy of Taliban in Islamabad. Pakistan seems to be hesitant to do so.

From the other side, the United States of America relies on sources -- on sources in Pakistan, I mean, (UNINTELLIGIBLE). That's the services intelligence of Pakistan, which has helped Taliban and terrorist networks in Afghanistan to expand their bases, to establish their bases -- to expand their bases throughout the region. And now, those forces that organization, (UNINTELLIGIBLE) of Pakistan, is being asked to change course, to turn back in 180 degrees manner.

This is our sources of concern of -- our basis of concern because the people -- the rituals in that organization -- the organization as a whole and also individuals in that organization adore those people are (UNINTELLIGIBLE) as Osama or Mullah Omar. And they are also a part of the regional drug mafia.

KING: Abdullah Abdullah, foreign minister for the Northern Alliance, the largest opposition group now engaged in military campaigns against Afghanistan's ruling Taliban.

Thank you very much for your time, sir.

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