Weakened Opposition - Afghanistan

May 2001 Times are hard for the Opposition Alliance. The drought is in its third year. Up to 200,000 have crossed the mountains to seek refuge in Pakistan since the border was closed last year. Pakistan still harbours 3 million Afghans, but won't register them. So the situation in the transit camps is desperate. Pakistan is the main supporter of the Taliban. We find Pakistan State Oil selling gasoline along the main route to Kabul. An injured Taliban confirms there were many Pakistanis in his force. The Taliban attitude to drug production has hardened since it banned poppy growing last year. "The Taliban were very tough with those who planted poppy," says one farmer. But everywhere we find frustration at the lack of serious international efforts to promote peace. "People in the West are so negative to the Taliban. But what will happen if the Taliban implodes... total chaos," says one observer. "We will destroy the Taliban and retake our land," vows one soldier, with the odds stacked against him.