Randall Pinkston's Afghanistan Diary Part I

Arriving In Kabul — CBS / Randall Pinkston

Sunday, July 21: After 10 days in Islamabad, covering the political troubles of Pakistani President Musharraf and the murder trial of slain journalist Daniel Pearl, producer Mark Hooper and I arrived into Afghanistan's capital city. The Kabul airport was quiet and passport officials friendly and efficient.

Children Of The Dumps

Once we reached the downtown area, I noticed a group of children in a field. As I watched they leaned over, picking items up. The desperate children in this desperate city were looking for whatever they could salvage from a trash pile.

Welcome To Our Shelter

CBS shares a house with ABC News, a sprawling ranch-like stucco structure. It has no air conditioning but, with the fans, the heat is bearable (appx 80 --90 degrees on Sunday).

First Assignment

Two hours after arriving, we were off to our first assignment, interviewing Lt. Colonel Kevin McDonnell, who was in charge of training 300 soldiers and officers of the Afghan Army. The facility they were using was built under King Mohammad Zahir Shar, and later used Mujahadeen, Taliban and al Qaida.

U.S. Soldiers In Kabul

Last fall, coalition aircraft bombed the Afghan army training center during Operation Enduring Freedom. Now, U.S. soldiers of the 3rd Special Forces Group, from Fort Bragg, N.C., are using what's left of the complex to train the first element of the Afghan National Army.

Shomali Plains

Monday, July 22: We left Kabul, across the Shomali Plains to Bagram Air Base, headquarters of U. S. military operations. En route, 3 U.S. helicopters, two troop carriers and one escort craft flew over Shomali Plains on a mission.

Road To Bagram

All along the highway, there are rocks of different colors, usually white or yellow, indicating that the ground off the highway is probably mined. Afghanistan is one of the most heavily armed nations in the world.

The Check Point

Getting into the air base requires clearing two security check points: first, the Afghans, then the Americans. Here a U.S. soldier checks a truck delivering computer supplies to the air base. The Soviet-built base has been converted into a home away from home for the combined U.S. forces.

Graduation Day

Tuesday, July 23: It was graduation day for the first American-trained members of the Afghan National Army. After getting through unusually heavy security check points manned by U.S. soldiers, we arrive back at the army training center that we had first visited two days earlier.

Guarding The Ceremony

This time, American soldiers were everywhere. Not only because they had provided the training, but because they were also in charge of security for the Afghan and U.S. dignitaries in attendance.

Dignitary Speakers

All of the Afghan speakers who attended the ceremonies, including President Karzai, urged the nascent army to put aside ethnic differences. Defense Minister Mohammad Fahim summed it up: "Our aim is to disarm all irresponsible armed groups and make the National Army loyal to Afghanistan, not loyal to ethnic groups".