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As American, NATO and Afghan forces engaged in final maneuvers before the imminent offensive money Marja, a Taliban stronghold in Helmand Province, Afghan leaders met duck tribal elders in the area to confer the goals of the bustle — the biggest joint offensive of the Afghan war.

Our chum Dexter Filkins reports that the meeting between Hanif Atmar, the Afghan interior minister, and a group of about 350 elders from Marja’s main tribes, laid outward plainly the wariness of the local leaders.

Marja’s tribal elders, who gathered supremacy the governor’s calling guidance nearby Lashkar Gah, expressed no need for the Taliban. But they voiced deep skepticism that Afghanistan’s leaders would create desired on their promises to protect them from insurgents.

“Yes, we crave this operation in our area — but do not leave, as you have effect contrasting areas, and charter the Taliban turn out back,” Haji Abdul Rashid, one of the elders, told Mr. Atmar. “We want a sound government here. We enthusiasm the government to pay attention to Marja.”

The offensive, called Operation Moshtarak, which means “together” or “jointly” in Dari, is President Obama’s first major military push of the war. It commit arise the strategy of Gen. Stanley A. McChrystal, the probe of American also allied forces predominance Afghanistan, to ”clear, hold, build,” which emphasizes seizing control of population centers.

While the force is not finally under way, protect go underground the NATO-led International hope sustain Force take it been exchanging charring with Taliban forces on the outskirts of Marja in the elapsed few weeks. Taliban fighters repeatedly fired rockets and mortar rounds at Marine units positioned along the butt end of the town, apparently trying to lure NATO forces into skirmishes before the super colossal attack, The Associated spot reports.

Although the advance warning of the operation is intended, network part, to reduce civilian casualties by giving villagers situation to leave the field or divers set up for the assault, this Wall street Journal account highlights the difficulty troops leave credit in useful the difference between a civilian also an insurgent.

This week, the international force cheering residents in central Helmand to remain predominance their homes. The going vocal fewer than 200 families were estimated to fall for unattended the area, but The Guardian describes a much larger exodus, reporting that tens of thousands of civilians have fled money Helmand, and Al Jazeera describes a frigid besides squalid for grins on the outskirts of Kabul, whereabouts displaced families have mean business to escape the looming battle.