Tension is in the air in Afghanistan's Helmand province, where NATO will soon launch a major offensive designed to drive out the Taliban and improve local security with the help of Afghan troops.
Hundreds of Afghans have been told to flee their homes, particularly those living in the town of Marjah -- a town of about 85,000 people that is considered a Taliban stronghold and major hub for the Afghan narcotics trade.
"It is the one spot where officials say that the Afghan government is simply non-existent," CTV's South Asia Bureau Chief, Janis Mackey Frayer, told Â鶹´«Ã½ Channel from Kandahar.
"What NATO is looking to do in this mission is to try to clear out those Taliban elements and be able to implement not only a military strategy, but a strong civilian strategy there, too, to try to have the Afghan government take hold."
Taliban fighters are also on the move -- digging trenches, obtaining heavier weapons and preparing to take on the NATO forces coming their way.
Frayer said the NATO offensive will draw upon the increased number of U.S. troops that are in Afghanistan, as well as the still-developing Afghan National Army and Afghan National Police, to take on the local Taliban.
"What they are hoping is that with the infusion of so many troops and with Afghan troops at this stage in their training, that they will be able to go in to Marjah, clear Marjah and have Marjah take hold," Frayer said.
The attack is called Operation Mushtarak, named for the Dari word for "together."
The offensive's exact start date has not been made public, though it is expected to begin soon. It is also expected to be bloody.
Despite the death of two British soldiers who were killed by a bomb in Helmand province Sunday, Britain's Defense Ministry said the offensive had not started.
Corruption charges
Meanwhile, Afghan officials announced Monday that a district administrator in northwestern Afghanistan had been arrested by NATO-backed Afghan troops on accusations of militant links and corruption charges.
Officials said Aminullah, the chief administrator in Bala Murghab, had been detained since Thursday. But his arrest was not revealed until Monday.
Prosecutor Mohammad Nahim Naziry said Aminullah is accused of passing sensitive military and intelligence to militants. He is also accused of selling government property and cooking oil meant for poor people.
The corruption charges were confirmed by the deputy provincial governor, Abdul Ghani Sabery, though he said he had no information that Aminullah was helping militants.
It was the second time in a week that a senior Afghan official was arrested.
Attaullah Wahab, the deputy provincial police chief in Kapisa province, was arrested Friday and accused of involvement in a roadside bomb network as well as corruption charges.
With files from The Associated Press and The Canadian Press
