Return to Transcripts main page

CNN Live Sunday

Afghanistan Plagued by Security Concerns

Aired February 17, 2002 - 17:08   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.
FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: The strikes in Afghanistan are the latest evidence of a problem plaguing the country as it tries to rebuild. In response to security concerns, the Afghan government is trying to offer some reassurance to its citizen and to the world. CNN's Brian Palmer is in the capital city of Kabul, and he filed this report.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BRIAN PALMER, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Interim government Chairman Hamid Karzai wanted to talk about rebuilding his shattered nation.

HAMID KARZAI, INTERIM GOVERNMENT CHAIRMAN: With that cash money, we're immediately are capable of sending moneys straight to all the provinces of Afghanistan, for the restoration of schools and hospitals.

PALMER: But on the media's agenda, events in Kabul over the past few days in which two people have been killed and several injured.

Karzai addressed questions about security in Kabul, and law and order, but offered few new details about these events, Thursday's murder of a government minister, or the most recent incident, a shooting involving members of the International Security Assistance Force, or ISAF, that patrols Kabul.

One person died in that shooting, which happened in the early hours of Saturday morning. British paratroopers say they came under fire, and returned fire. Residents say members of the security forces fired on their car, a taxi taking a pregnant woman to the hospital, without provocation.

(on camera): The taxi was here. Family members of the man that was killed say the shots were fired from that tower over there, they say, by members of the International Security Assistance Force.

NASRULLAH, VICTIM'S UNCLE (through translator): They just want to hide their mistake by claiming someone fired at them.

PALMER (voice-over): Both Chairman Karzai and the spokesman for the security force say the matter is under investigation. Both deny that these events are signs of greater instability in the city of Kabul, or in the interim government. LT. COLONEL NEAL PECKHAM, ISAF SPOKESMAN: As far as the overall security conditions are concerned, we have not sensed any change of mood within the city whatsoever. We are going about our business. We have not changed in any significant way our force profiles, and the city is perfectly calm.

KARZAI: The cabinet is fully, fully united. Every member of the cabinet exactly acted as an Afghan minister, not as a party minister.

PALMER: Karzai also said that he might ask the international community to expand the mandate of the security force to allow it to take a more aggressive law enforcement role. The 17-nation force now operates under strict rules of engagement that do not permit its solders to disarm citizens bearing weapons. And there are many weapons in many hands across the country.

Some progress has been made in the investigation into the killing of the civil aviation and tourism minister, Dr. Abdul Rahman, at the Kabul Airport. The government announced the arrest in Saudi Arabia of two men accused of the killing. Perhaps one step, with many, many more needed toward bringing stability to this fragile and fractured country.

Brian Palmer, CNN, Kabul.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com