In central Afghanistan, a group of Afghan soldiers entered a valley to seize illegal weapons and found several dozen pro-Taliban villagers who apparently were not aware that the Taliban had lost control of the country. Initial fighting left five Taliban and three Afghan soldiers.
Southern Afghanistan has been the scene of 27 anti-government attacks in the last two weeks. The causes are varied. Some of the hostility is from drug gangs, others from pro-Taliban elements and some a result of tribal and warlord squabbles.