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#Videocrux - US and Afghan troops prepare for assault in Nangarhar province US and Afghan troops prepare for assault in Nangarhar province
US soldiers alongside Afghan police and army patrol through Markikheyl village in Nangarhar province.
US focusing on developing strong Afghan forces
For Lieutenant Ed Maloney, the most difficult part of leading a four-day mission in eastern Afghanistan was persuading Afghan soldiers to leave their base in the first place. It took three hours of negotiations on the night before departure to convince the Afghans the expedition to Sherzad district in Nangarhar province was worthwhile. Improving the effectiveness of the Afghan National Army (ANA) has been a priority for the international coalition since the Taliban regime was ousted in 2001, with a strong Afghan military seen as essential to national stability. Foreign and Afghan leaders agree that leaving a centrally controlled army in place is the only way NATO-led troops can exit the country without a civil war likely to break out soon afterwards. The convoy from Connolly consisted of 22 US soldiers in MRAP (Mine Resistant, Ambush Protected) trucks and 20 Afghan soldiers in reinforced Humvees. After driving for three hours behind an IED (improvised explosive device) detection escort, the group camped out in Sherzad district centre and made a series of visits to villages known for Taliban activity

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