Military

DATE=3/7/02

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

TITLE=AFGHAN/PENTAGON (L)

NUMBER=2-287284

BYLINE=ALEX BELIDA

DATELINE=PENTAGON

CONTENT=

VOICED AT:

INTRO: The U-S led military assault on al-Qaida and Taleban forces in eastern Afghanistan could be over in a matter of days. But as V-O-A Pentagon Correspondent Alex Belida reports, Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld says there is no sign of surrender from the well-entrenched and well-supplied terrorist fighters.

TEXT: Mr. Rumsfeld says the offensive against terrorist strongholds in mountainous terrain south of the Afghan city of Gardez could be over soon.

But the U-S Defense Secretary tells Pentagon employees he cannot be sure --- in part because of uncertainties about whether al-Qaida or Taleban fighters are moving into or out of the battle area.

///RUMSFELD ACTUALITY///

It strikes me that it should end --- I would think it would end --- sometime this weekend or next week but one can't be sure. If we have learned anything, we've learned it is that it is very hard to know precisely what's taking place by way of going in and out of that supposedly carefully watched area.

///END ACTUALITY///

U-S officials have said allied Afghan troops have been given the main responsibility of encircling the operation zone to ensure no terrorist fighters escape. Pakistani troops are patrolling their side of the nearby border to do the same while U-S troops take on the main burden of rooting out the enemy.

Several hundred al-Qaida and non-Afghan Taleban including Chechens and Uzbeks are believed to be in the area.

But Mr. Rumsfeld says the U-S may not know precise numbers until the battle is over. He says what is known is that the al-Qaida side is well entrenched and well supplied.

///RUMSFELD ACTUALITY///

We do know there are very deep caves and tunnels, that they are exceedingly well dug in, that air power works to a certain extent but they are also well supplied. They seem not short of ammunition and supplies.

///END ACTUALITY///

The Defense Secretary says there has been no sign of any interest in surrender on the part of the al-Qaida and Taleban forces. He and other Pentagon officials have previously indicated they expect them to fight to the death.

More than two thousand U-S, Afghan and other coalition forces are involved in what is called Operation Anaconda, the largest battle of the five-month-old war. The ground forces are receiving air support from a variety of aircraft including bombers and attack helicopters.(Signed)

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