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The Taleban may not be the only, or even the worst, problem Helmand is facing.
British funding for a new green space in one of the more troubled parts of Lashkar Gah has left residents wondering about the international community’s priorities.
No amount of public relations work can convince people in Helmand that the situation is improving.
It is either the best of times or the worst in northern Helmand, depending on who your source is.
The poppy harvest is in and everyone from the Taleban to local government officials is cooperating to get the opium crop to market.
Residents of village destroyed by coalition forces say death toll is many times higher than the official figure of 21.
The case of a woman whose “husband” is a six-year-old child highlights the problems of childhood betrothals in Afghanistan.
International forces claim success in their latest operation in Helmand, but locals say the Taleban stopped fighting so that the opium poppy harvest could go ahead.
It’s time to gather opium in the poppy fields, and everyone seems to be getting involved – even government officials.
Fundamentalist rule has returned to Musa Qala – and some residents have never been happier.