Taliban fighters who were won over by Nato

Operation Moshtarak, which means "together" in the Dari language, involves more than 15,000 Nato and Afghan troops.

The idea is to clear the area of insurgents and allow forces to work with local institutions to bolster reconstruction and provide support for the rule of law.

That includes trying to win over moderate members of the Taliban and draw them into the political process.

Martin Patience reports.