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CNN Sunday Morning

Bush Rewards Pakistan for Helping in War on Terrorism

Aired September 23, 2001 - 11:26   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: The international coalition against terrorism, one of the more difficult challenges facing President Bush at this moment. Already, he is rewarding Pakistan for its cooperation with the United States in that war against terrorism. For the latest from Pakistan, CNN's Christiane Amanpour joins us from the capitol of Islamabad -- Christiane.

CHRISTIANE AMANPOUR, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, John, indeed the U.S. has decided to lift those sanctions that they imposed because of Pakistan and India's nuclear program in 1998. And of course, this is being welcomed very, very much by the Pakistani government because the United States, which needs to have a strong Pakistan, as it goes through this crisis, needs also to have a strong Pakistani society and therefore, strong Pakistani economy. And this is going to help, says the finance minister to CNN, in terms of getting loans and all sorts of other financial and economic needs bolstering this country's very, very faltering economy.

And of course, the decision to stand with the United States has caused controversy in some segments of Pakistani society, notably, the hard lined Islamic extremist parties. And again, there was a protest held today in the northern city near Peshawar, on the Afghan-Pakistan border. And it was for the most part orderly despite the chanting and the shouting and the marching that went on.

And Pakistan believed that it is able to keep these under control. They believe that they have managed to form a consensus amongst the tribal leaders, provincial leaders and all sorts of religious leaders and other elements of society. But of course, they're going to be watching these protests as they are called, now, perhaps daily as this crisis continues -- John.

KING: Well, Christiane, you have been reporting on how difficult this is for the presidency, Mr. Musharraf, very difficult moment in his country. A short time ago, we spoke to the foreign minister of the Northern Alliance Abdullah Abdullah and he says so far, he sees no evidence that Pakistan, as requested by the United States, has cut off supplies to the Taliban -- things like fuel and other assistance. What is the reaction in Islamabad? Is there any indication that the Pakistani government will indeed crack down the Taliban?

AMANPOUR: Well, that's what they say they've doing. I mean they say, categorically, that they have closed down the border for all intensive purposes and that they're not doing anything in terms of military supplies or supplies that might bolster the Taliban at this particular time. That's what they're saying and they believe, you know -- they're saying also is that for us, now, the Taliban has become a liability. And you know, this may -- this crisis may provide us an opportunity to turn a page in our history and a page in relations with the United States.

KING: Christiane Amanpour in Islamabad, thank you very much. Now, for more on developments in the region, we turn it over to Bill Hemmer in New York.

BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: Yes, John, listen, in the northern part of Afghanistan, the group known as the Northern Alliance, that you just referred to, controls about 10 percent of that country. They are reporting today that they have made some advances on the military front. CNN's Chris Burns staked out in northern Afghanistan with this report now.

Chris, hello to you.

CHRIS BURNS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hello, Bill. Five provinces where fighting has been going on today -- three in the north, one in the west, one in the east. The Northern Alliance claims to have captured a number of villages. They call them liberated villages at this point, liberated from the Taliban.

The United Front or the Northern Alliance, as its called, also says that it has killed 60 Taliban fighters and captured 200 others. None of this, of course, is confirmed by the Taliban although the Taliban does say that fighting is going on in the north. The pressure also on the Taliban, on the diplomatic front, where foreign minister, Abdullah Abdullah of the Northern Alliance, met in neighboring Tajikistan with a very high Russian military delegation, talking about how they possibly could cooperate.

A source close to the National Alliance says that the Russians are selling to the Alliance very, very cheap hardware that is ammunition to the Northern Alliance to continue to wage its fight.

Mr. Abdullah Abdullah also says that there are contacts with the United States and a -- and someone who is close to the Northern Alliance says that there are daily contacts with the United States, in fact, exchanges of information unbiased so that it does look like there are increasing ties with the international community by the Northern Alliance in its push to put more pressure on the Taliban and cooperate with the United States.

One other interesting point by the foreign minister is that he says he thinks he knows where Mr. Bin Laden is.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ABDULLAH ABDULLAH, NORTHERN ALLIANCE FOREIGN MINISTER: 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.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BURNS: And the foreign minister also says that he says he thinks his people can help to find Mr. Bin Laden. Back to you, Bill.

HEMMER: All right, Chris. Chris Burns reporting in northern Afghanistan where clearly night has fallen there. We'll keep you posted on what Chris gathers throughout the evening.

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