Locals complained that the Taliban taxed them heavily on the opium harvest. They said the Taliban demanded up to about 14kg of opium from every farmer, which was more than the entire harvest of some, so they were forced to go and buy opium to meet the demand, said Abdul Taher, a 45-year-old farmer.
“We had a lot of trouble these last two years,” said Sher Ahmad, 32. “We are very grateful for the security,” said his father, Abdul Nabi, the elder of a small hamlet in the village of Hazarjoft, a few kilometers south of Garmser. “We don’t need your help, just security,” he said.
Villagers were refusing humanitarian aid offered by the Marines because the Taliban were already infiltrating back and threatening anyone who took it, Matzke said.
After a month in the region, the Marines have secured only half of a roughly 16km2 area south of Garmser. Taliban forces operating out of two villages are still attacking the southern flank of the Marines and are even creeping up to fire at British positions on the edge of the town.
But the bigger test will come in the next few weeks as the Marines move on and the Afghans, supported by the British, take over. The concern here is that the Taliban will try to blend in among the returning villagers and orchestrate attacks.
Den-McKay said they were ready. “The threat will migrate from direct attacks to suicide attacks,” and roadside bombs, he said.
Now on his fourth tour in Afghanistan, Den-McKay said he had seen considerable progress in the confidence and ability of the Afghan security forces. Reinforcements of the police, trained and mentored by the British and Americans, have already moved in and are working well with border police and intelligence service personnel, he said.
The Marines, meanwhile, prepare for their next move. To the south lay kilometers upon kilometers of uncontrolled territory where the Taliban still operate freely, as well as a dozen other districts around the country demanding their attention.
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