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CNN Sunday Morning

Northern Alliance Claims Several Significant Victories

Aired November 11, 2001 - 10:01   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.
MARTIN SAVIDGE, CNN ANCHOR: It is nighttime in Afghanistan, traditionally, a time recently of heavy fighting. Taliban opposition forces are claiming again some significant victories in northern and central Afghanistan.

CNN's Satinder Bindra is with the Northern Alliance in northern Afghanistan with details -- Satinder.

SATINDER BINDRA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Martin, the foreign minister of the Northern Alliance, Dr. Abdullah, has just been talking to the media, and he is repeating earlier claims which have been reporting of what the Northern Alliance is calling significant victories. Dr. Abdullah, once again, saying that the two cities of Bamiyan (ph) and Taloqan (ph) are now in their control.

He said the status of Pul-e-Khumri (ph), which is a central Afghan city, is unclear. But in summary, what Dr. Abdullah said to the media was today was a day of significant victories for his troops.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DR. ABDULLAH ABDULLAH, NORTHERN ALLIANCE FOREIGN MINISTER: The importance of this big defeat for the Taliban -- dramatic defeat for the Taliban, is not only that they have lost large areas, but they have lost their main fighting force.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BINDRA: Now, just about 10 minutes ago, Martin, we've received word that a significant Taliban stronghold, just about four kilometers from where I am, called Kaleh Kateh Hill, has also been captured. And what I have noticed over the past half hour is all the intense artillery and rocket attacks, which we were reporting just about an hour ago, have now ceased. It is very quiet here on the frontline. Northern Alliance commanders are telling us with the capture of Kaleh Kateh Hill what that means is a significant amount of Taliban soldiers mainly as they put it Arab, Chechen, Pakistani fighters are now trapped -- back to you, Martin.

SAVIDGE: Satinder, now that these significant areas have been captured, questions are being raised about Kabul President of the United States saying, asking the Northern Alliance not to go there. How does the Northern Alliance react to that request? BINDRA: Martin, earlier they were not ruling out attacks on Kabul. Now they are saying, because of political reasons, because the United States doesn't want them to go there, also because some commanders are saying because of military reasons, Kabul is very heavily defended. They will, perhaps, try to stay away and continue to focus on fighting in northern and central Afghanistan.

But Dr. Abdullah firmly denied today, in his press conference, that the Northern Alliance was not going in there simply because people in Kabul would not welcome his forces. What we do know about the ethnic composition of Kabul is it's mainly a Pashtun-dominated city, and of course, the Northern Alliance forces are mainly Tajiks and Uzbeks. So perhaps, that could be a cause for concern, but today in his new conference, Dr. Abdullah firmly denying any such fears from his side -- back to you, Martin.

SAVIDGE: All right. CNN's Satinder Bindra reporting to us from northern Afghanistan. Thank you very much.

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