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CNN Saturday Morning News

Bomb Explodes Without Incident at Islamabad Airport

Aired October 20, 2001 - 08:08   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: There has been military activity on the ground and in the air in Afghanistan. Our Christiane Amanpour is tracking the latest developments from Islamabad and that's where she joins us live this morning from -- good evening to you, Christiane.

CHRISTIANE AMANPOUR, CNN CHIEF INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Good evening from here to you.

Well, the latest from Islamabad is that there has been the first sort of real security scare here since this crisis happened. Basically about three or four hours ago, there was a suspicious package discover at the Islamabad Airport. What happened was the increased security there, increased because of this crisis, discovered this package, couldn't find the person who should have owned it, immediately called out the bomb disposal squad, threw a bomb blanket over it and took it to a bomb bunker several hundred yards away from the crowded terminal.

There, this device exploded. There were no casualties. The experts there tell us that had it exploded inside the terminal, it would most definitely have caused casualties and perhaps even deaths. They also are not telling us who put it there, whether there's been any claim of responsibility or who it might be. So those are the only details we know at this point.

In terms of what's going on in Afghanistan, we understand, of course, from various sources that the air campaign continues. Overnight, we had reports from both our sources in Kandahar and also Al Jazeera in Kandahar, who showed pictures of the AC-130 in action and we were told about two AC-130s that had been in action there. Also, we were told by sources on the ground that there were reports of helicopters and dismounted troops. We understand that this was attacking a target somewhat on the outskirts of Kandahar, this according to our sources there.

Now, in terms of there was a crash of a U.S. attack helicopter at a base here in Pakistan. Foreign ministry officials and, indeed, U.S. officials have confirmed that there was a crash at one of the bases that has been given over to U.S. logistical support and two U.S. air force were killed aboard that helicopter crash.

In terms of any potential diplomatic activity here in Pakistan, the Islamabad -- sorry, the Afghan Taliban ambassador has been to Islamabad foreign ministry officials, although we are told now that he came with no peace plan, no cease-fire plan and no change in the Taliban's position -- back to you.

PHILLIPS: Christiane, this explosive device that was found at the Islamabad Airport, we should not jump to a conclusion that this is as a result of the military action on the part of the U.S. in Afghanistan.

AMANPOUR: No. They are saying that it could be, sources say, not officials on the record yet. It could be connected to sectarian violence, which has been on and off in Pakistan over the years between the local Moslem factions here. According to sources, about a week or so ago there was a threat called in to the Pakistan authorities that they might try something like this at the airport and this is one of the reasons that there was increased security at the airport, according to the airport officials that we spoke to today.

There's also been increased security because of the September 11 crisis and its fallout.

So we are not sure yet, but they're sort of steering us away from connection with the September 11 crisis.

SAVIDGE: Thank you very much, Christiane Amanpour, reporting to us from Islamabad. We will continue to remain in touch with her. Thank you.

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