Emerging Epicenter In the Afghan War; NATO Aims to Loosen Taliban's Grip in Helmand

From: The Washington Post | Date: March 15, 2007| Author: Griff Witte - Washington Post Foreign Service | Copyright information

Lala Jan is a hostage in his own home.

In his village in the southern province of Helmand, Taliban gunmen patrol the streets and NATO warplanes scour the skies. Jan fears both, so in recent months the 28-year-old farmer has hardly stepped beyond his front door.

"I don't go out," Jan said in a telephone interview, "because I don't want any problems."

But right now, problems are tough to avoid in Helmand. As the weather improves and Afghanistan enters its traditional fightin...

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