A Photo Blog From Afghanistan

Two US Marines, left, from India Company, 3rd Battalion, 6th Marines, guard an Afghan detainee as an Afghan National Army soldier, center, talks with him, at their base in Marjah, Helmand province, on April 7, 2010. AFP / Getty Images / Mauricio Lima

U.S. Marines in Afghanistan -- Sacremento Bee

KABUL (AP) -- Thousands of U.S., NATO and Afghan forces have poured into southern Afghanistan in recent months to try to rout Taliban from areas long ruled more by the militants than by the government of President Hamid Karzai. U.S. Marines and Afghan troops mounted a massive operation in the southern town of Marjah this spring and troops are increasing pressure in the southeastern province of Kandahar -- the birthplace of the former Taliban regime. With Karzai in Washington as part of a four-day U.S. visit, President Barack Obama was holding a series of closed-door meetings on Afghanistan and was due to meet with the Afghan leader on Wednesday. He has greatly expanded the U.S. military presence in Afghanistan since taking office, but plans to start drawing down troops in July 2011. The goal that is widely viewed as dependent on successful operations this summer.

Agence France-Presse photographer, Mauricio Lima, has been in Afghanistan for the last several months covering the war. Here is a look at some of his images from March and April. (21 images)

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