BBC Reality Check - Travelling With The Taleban

......The trucking companies, who backed them first in 1994 when they emerged to clear illegal checkpoints on the roads, are now backing them again. This time the checkpoints are manned by Afghan government soldiers, who demand money at gunpoint from every driver.
...... The Taleban official spokesman, Mohammed Anif, explained: "When the Islamic movement of the Taleban started in the first place, the main reason was because of concern among people about corruption. People were fed up with having to bribe governors, and other authorities. We rose up and saved almost the whole country from the evils of corruption and corrupt commanders. That's why people are supporting the Taleban again now."
......The Taleban disappeared to the mountains after their defeat in 2001, and found it hard to recruit. Five years on they are back, and regrouping against an old enemy.
......It is hard for Nato to promote its mission as humanitarian given the civilian casualties. In a village damaged by a British attack, some people were too angry to talk to me because I was British. One merely pointed to the torn and bloody women's clothing left in the ruins of the house and said bitterly, "Are these the kind of houses they have come to build - the kind where clothing is cut to pieces?".
......They fear for the homes and farms they have left behind, and while not active Taleban supporters, it is clear that most blame NATO more for the worsening violence.
......One man said the Taleban have most to gain in the continuing conflict. "It's very obvious. Right now we see foreigners with tanks driving through our vineyards. They destroy people's orchards. They break through the walls and just drive across. When they take up positions in the village like this, nobody can cooperate with them."
......Taleban morale is bolsterd by the history of Afghanistan's past victories over the British (1842 & 1880) and Russians (1980’s).

60 civilians said killed in Afghanistan
......Kandahar provincial council member Bismallah Afghanmal said 80 to 85 civilians were killed in fighting. The civilian deaths would be the highest caused by Western forces since the U.S.-led invasion in 2001. The Afghan Defense Ministry was investigating, NATO said.
......"An investigation has no meaning," said Afghanmal. "These kinds of things have happened several times, and they only say 'Sorry.' How can you compensate people who have lost their sons and daughters?"

‘A lot of nervousness’ about British deal in Afghanistan, says US
......British troops pulled out of the Musa Qala district in the southern Afghan province of Helmand about a week ago, following a request from war-weary residents. The US ambassador to Afghanistan has questioned Britain’s deal to pull out of a previously insurgency-hit town, saying there is “a lot of nervousness” about it. “There is a lot of nervousness about who the truce was made with, who the arrangement was made with, and whether it will hold.” It was the first time the NATO force had moved out of a district following a deal with residents.
...... Neumann also said that an analysis carried out by the United States and NATO this summer indicated that local tribes in parts of Helmand were siding with the Taleban because of frustration over bad local governance.

Note: BBC Reality Check - Tr... 60 civilians said kill... ‘A lot of nervousness’...