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CNN Live Sunday

Taliban Kills 150 Northern Alliance Fighters in an Ambush

Aired December 01, 2001 - 15:31   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.
LEON HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: A senior figure in Afghanistan's Northern Alliance told CNN that 12 Pashtun commanders and 150 fighters accompanying them have been ambushed and killed by the Taliban. Now, this reportedly happened during a mission to Kandahar to negotiate with the Taliban. Our Jim Clancy joins us now with the latest from the Afghan capital city of Kabul.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JIM CLANCY, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The meetings in Bonn may have been topic number one, but they certainly weren't the only issue during a meeting of the Supreme Council of the Northern Alliance in Kabul. Acting finance minister and council member Wahidullah Sabawoon had cautious advice for those seeking to understand his nation.

"Afghan politics," he said, "is grief and agony." The finance minister told us that in an attempt to negotiate with the Taliban and at the Taliban's own request, the Northern Alliance sent 150 men, including 12 Pashtun commanders, to Kandahar for negotiations more than a week ago. But the minister said the Taliban ambushed the delegation in nearby Helmand Province, killing all 150 men, including the commanders. He said the Taliban had disgraced itself, and warned if necessary the Northern Alliance would fight for Kandahar.

The leadership of the Supreme Council is coordinating with its own representatives in Bonn to determine how the core of a new government will take shape. There are assurances it is willing to accept fundamental change.

DR. ABDULLAH ABDULLAH, NORTHERN ALLIANCE FOREIGN MINISTER: Yes, we're ready to transfer power to a transitional authority, and the head of that transitional authority will not be the president of the Islamic State of Afghanistan.

CLANCY (on camera): When those leaders are named, it is the reaction right here in Kabul that may measure the success or the failure of those talks in Germany. While billions of dollars in aid are being dangled as an inducement for all sides to accept the outcome, even that may not be enough.

(voice-over): Political disagreements remain. Many of those gathered in Bonn are insisting on international peacekeepers to ensure their security, while some of those in Kabul say any international force should only be deployed at Afghanistan's borders to allow Afghans to sort out their problems by themselves.

"Afghans are hostile toward one another," said Walidullah Sabawoon, "but they are united against outsiders."

The politics of Afghanistan, the agony and grief. Even with the help of the international community, it is still up to Afghanistan's politicians to change that.

Jim Clancy, CNN, Kabul.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

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