What exactly is happening in Afghanistan?

Confusion over what the marines are doing

Despite intense media scrutiny, with hundreds of reporters deployed across Afghanistan, it's practically impossible to discover what's happening in the country - except that there has been very little fighting of any kind. A thousand British personnel have now been deployed to an area where Australian commandos were shot at.

Mullah Omar, the Taliban leader who escaped from Kandahar as his regime collapsed, has apparently given an interview to an Arab daily newspaper - claiming that the war in Afghanistan is not over: the interview, conducted through an in intermediary, also claims that Osama bin Laden is alive and well - 'to the horror,' as he puts it - 'of Bush'

The newspaper is based in London, though it is printed by satellite throughout the Arab World. We hear from the Editor, Abdul-Rahman al-Rashid, who explains how the interview came about.

Very little information has been given about the precise nature of this latest operation "Operation Condor". Downing Street said that the British contingent was taking a lead role, but many local observers will be surprised if the men really do find a large enemy force.

Najam Sethi, editor of the Friday Times in the Pakistani city of Lahore, told the programme that a misleading impression has been given of what's happening in Eastern Afghanistan.

The Tory MP and former defence minister Nicholas Soames tells the programme he is concerned about the hype surrounding the operation in Afganhanistan.

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