Author: Agencies
Publication: The Times of India
Date: October 2, 2001
An American delegation headed by
two-star general Kevin Chilton, which held detailed talks with the Inter-Services
Intelligence (ISI) and military officials, is understood to have arrived
at an agreement that the proposed operations would be aimed at attacking
Bin Laden's camps inside Afghanistan.
Quoting military officials in Rawalpindi,
The Friday Times reported that American and Pakistani officials had also
discussed ways to minimise the use of ground forces in view of the difficult
topography of Afghanistan.
One possible option the U.S. is
exploring is not just strenthening the Northern Alliance but also stirring
up resistance among Pashtun tribal groups. U.S. officials indicated assistance
to these groups would include funds. Besides, the Bush administration is
also hoping to encourage defections from the Taliban's ranks. An official
said the U.S. was in contact with "people loosely affiliated with the Taliban
or separated from them or likely to switch sides if they believe the regime's
days are numbered".
The U.S. strategy seems to have
met with quick success as former Taliban commander Ismail Khan has joined
the opposition forces. Khan, who fought with the Taliban against former
Soviet forces, was imprisoned following differences with the militia leaders.
However, he escaped a few years ago and fled to Iran, only to return home.
Unconfirmed reports said some American
commandos had been engaging the Taliban outposts in south-east Afghanistan
in order to facilitate Khan's passage to Kandahar. Moreover, at least two
prominent Taliban ministers and the governor of an important province of
a Taliban-controlled area have reportedly promised to come out openly in
support of Khan if he succeeds in getting close to Kandahar.
The two ministers are planning to
take advantage of the likely panic and confusion in the ranks and stage
a 'rebellion' against militia chief Mullah Omar. It is learnt that if Mullah
Omar is defeated, the moderate among the militia will invite former king
Zahir Shah to return and lead the process of reconstruction of the country.
With the Taliban vowing to fight
it out until the end, the Americans seem to be preparing themselves for
the worst.
Fearing a chemical attack, the U.S.
department of energy (DoE) has installed detectors in a Washington metro
train station to test an early warning system for toxic chemicals in the
underground train system throughout the country. The move follows FBI findings
that Bin Laden's Al-Qaeda network had tried to obtain anthrax and botulinum
toxin from a European country. (Agencies)
