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CNN Sunday Morning

U.N. Builds Plan for Multiethnic Government in Kabul

Aired November 18, 2001 - 07:06   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: In the capital city of Kabul, a United Nations envoy is trying to work out a plan for a new multiethnic government, but there is no word of progress. Meanwhile, the Northern Alliance is beginning to flex its political muscle in Kabul, and that is causing some diplomatic worry in Washington and around the world.

CNN's Major Garrett reports.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MAJOR GARRETT, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The Northern Alliance has begun to exert control in Kabul, alarming international diplomats trying to build a broad multi-ethnic government to replace the Taliban.

Cheered as liberators, the Northern Alliance is setting up shop in former Taliban government ministries, confiscating weapons and patrolling the streets of Kabul.

TOBY GATI, FORMER ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF STATE: I think it is a mistake to believe that local leaders in Afghanistan are going to wait for an American President, for a Russian President, for the United Nations or for any other country to take advantage of facts on the ground.

GARRETT: The biggest fear is that the Northern Alliance, made up of Tajiks and Uzbeks will try to consolidate control, freezing out Afghanistan's majority Pashtuns, a move that could start another Afghan civil war.

FREDERICK STARR, JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY: On the issue of the Northern Alliance running off with the ball at this point, we don't have our act together with potentially very serious consequences.

GARRETT: To avert this crisis, President Bush has warned the alliance not to overplay its hands.

GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Any government, in order for it to be, achieve its objectives must represent all the interests in Afghanistan, not only the Northern Alliance, which has been very effective fighters on the ground, but also the Pashtun tribes, which are generally in the southern part of the country, and we are working to figure out a strategy to make sure that that happens.

GARRETT: Administration officials downplay the dangers, arguing that the Northern Alliance would lose aid, trade, and invite internal strife if it thwarted efforts to build a broad-based government. And a top Northern Alliance official says the world is overreacting.

ABDULLAH ABDULLAH, NORTHERN ALLIANCE FOREIGN MINISTER: The principles are political leadership or our security forces in Kabul shouldn't be interpreted as a move to block the political settlement. It would rather help that political settlement.

GARRETT (on-camera): The White House says its military objectives, defeating the Taliban and destroying al Qaeda haven't been accomplished yet and until they are, achieving long-term political solutions may prove difficult. Said one top aide, no one should be writing epilogues in Afghanistan about anything yet.

Major Garrett, CNN, Crawford, Texas.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

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