Afghan army troops continue to operate in the southeast, searching or attacking pro-Taliban villages. The new Afghan army now has 5,500 troops, out of an eventual size of 70,000. Progress in building the army is slow because of the need to carefully train officers and troops.

American troops and Special Forces continue to work the border and pro-Taliban areas. The network of informers, and electronic surveillance, provide a constant stream of tips on where Taliban and al Qaeda are operating. This leads to raids which have largely kept Taliban and al Qaeda forces off balance in Afghanistan.