Afghan and Canadian forces moved into a series of villages outside of southern Afghanistan's largest city Wednesday to root out Taliban, officials said. Troops in Arghandab district just outside of Kandahar exchanged fire with militants during «a few minor contacts, » NATO spokesman Mark Laity said. He said there had been no reports of casualties. Helicopters and jets patrolled the skies and smoke rose from fields after exchanges of fire, an Associated Press reporter at the scene said. A helicopter landed in a field near the fighting and appeared to evacuate a casualty, he said. Large Canadian military vehicles and Afghan police trucks were moving through the region. «As of this morning we've expanded operations into Arghandab,» Laity said. «Canadian troops are in support of the ANA (Afghan National Army), and operations are under way.» Afghanistan's Ministry of Defense on Tuesday said between 300 and 400 militant fighters were operating in Arghandab _ a lush region of pomegranate and grape fields that lies 15 kilometers (10 miles) northwest of Kandahar city. Canadian military officials who patrolled through Arghandab over the last day reported «no obvious signs» of insurgent activity. But that didn't mean there were no Taliban there, a NATO news release said. Pentagon officials said reports of hundreds of Taliban in Arghandab were being overstated. Still, local police say hundreds of farm families have fled, fearing upcoming military operations.
