The soldiers on 'reassurance' patrol

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By Peter Grant BBC News, Helmand province, Afghanistan

British soldiers are engaging with Afghans to win their trust

"Walking around and just talking to people can gain their trust and respect."

This is the view of Sgt Bob Castle, of the Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment, as he does exactly that on the streets of Lashkar Gah, the provincial capital of Helmand province in Afghanistan.

He and other members of C Company are taking part in what he calls a "reassurance patrol".

For some time they'll be walking along the roads and across open ground, along with a contingent of Afghan police.

Each of the policemen carries an assault rifle, one even has a rocket-propelled grenade launcher. But this patrol isn't about force and firepower.

Just a small bit [of information] can lead to something big Sgt Bob Castle

"It's face-to-face talking," says Sgt Castle, "rather than rocking up in a big armoured vehicle, which gives the wrong impression."

And that talking can benefit the British soldiers in many ways.

It can gain friends, it can give them a feeling for what's going on, and it can yield useful information.

"Just a small bit can lead to something big," says Sgt Castle.

But there's patrolling, and patrolling. The routine of Lashkar Gah would be unrecognisable - and unsustainable - in many of Afghanistan's rural areas.

This patrol is burdened enough - sweating faces and pauses to bend knees to take the strain testify to that.

Suspicious weapon

But C Company's commander, Maj Mark Hickman, says they'd be carrying much more outside the built-up areas, where patrolling is more difficult.

Another officer later says patrols in rural areas can almost expect contact with the Taleban, and the weapons used by the British can be anything from rifles to a 1,000-pound air-dropped bomb.Afghan children often ask the soldiers for sweets

The only weapon encountered on this patrol is an assault rifle found in a car which is suspiciously expensive for the area.

The owner is wearing a police uniform, but he's not a local officer, and the rifle doesn't match his permit.

After some complicated arguments involving the unit's interpreter, Lt Mike Martin, and after a nearby resident for whom the man claimed to be a bodyguard is brought from his house, the problem is resolved.

But it's the British soldiers, rather than the Afghan police, who have taken the lead - a point which will be noted in the debriefing after the patrol.

The commander of the police contingent with the patrol insists his men want to protect the area so that people can pass freely.

He says that if they had more, they could do more. He wants cars and extra ammunition.

And he flatly denies claims made by some of the Afghans met by the patrol that the police themselves take cash or mobile phones from some of the people they stop.

Growing education

However, the men of C Company are being asked for things. They're being pestered for pens and chocolate by the swarm of children who've attached themselves to the patrol.

Some of them shout "Hello" and "How are you?", keen to show off their English. One boy points proudly to his school.

According to officials, he's one of between six million and seven million Afghan children now being educated.

Six years ago that figure stood at one million, hardly any of whom were girls.

It's the hope of continuing this - and other - improvements that keeps the British soldiers patrolling in Afghanistan.