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CNN Saturday Morning News

Taliban May be Losing Grip on Kandahar

Aired November 17, 2001 - 10:13   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: The Taliban may be losing their grip of control on their southern stronghold of Kandahar at this moment. CNN's Carol Lin is covering developments from across the border in Quetta, Pakistan -- Carol.

CAROL LIN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Marty, there are meetings going on on both sides of the border tonight. Here, in Quetta, Pakistan, a meeting of Afghan tribal leaders who have given the Taliban an ultimatum -- put down your weapons or else we will wage war on you. At the same time, we are learning that in Kandahar, the -- it's an unusual situation, so I hope you can follow me here.

In Kandahar, there was a shura meeting, a meeting of council of elders of a Pashtun tribe called the Norzi (ph). Now, they had decided last night that one of Mullah Mohammed Omar's men, a Taliban, by the name of Haji Bashur (ph) should take over administrative control of the city. That's according to our source inside of Kandahar.

Mullah Mohammed Omar is still in Kandahar and technically, the Taliban are still in control of the city. However, what we are hearing from our source inside of Kandahar, is this man, Haji Bashur, who used to be a right-hand deputy of Mullah Mohammed Omar is now answering to these Norzi tribesmen. He is also a member of the Norzi tribe.

So we have a situation, which seems to be developing inside of Kandahar where perhaps, as part of a peaceful resolution, perhaps one leading to the complete withdrawal of the Taliban inside of Kandahar, that may be ongoing as we speak. It is a developing situation. It may explain a lot of the conflicting reports that we have been hearing, both as Mullah Mohammed Omar withdrawing or giving up power. However, we understand that he is attending many of these meetings. He is part of the consultation of these Afghan tribal leaders here in Quetta, Pakistan, who have been sending regular delegations into Kandahar to negotiate a peaceful withdrawal.

Where the status of those negotiations actually stand right now, we are waiting to learn. It is Ramadan and after sunset, the tribal leaders broke off so that they could begin their evening feast. But we are tracking these developments, Marty.

SAVIDGE: Carol Lin reporting to us live from Quetta, Pakistan on the underling -- the political intrigue involving all of this. Thank you very much.

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