July 8 (Bloomberg) -- The Taliban has largely fled Helmand province in the face of a combined Marine Corps, Afghan and NATO operation that’s focusing on improving the security of the population, the offensive’s top commander said.

There haven’t been any civilian casualties after seven days and about 20 engagements with Taliban forces that now have largely left the area in southern Afghanistan, Marine Corps Brigadier General Larry Nicholson told reporters today at the Pentagon. The military operation is now focused on cementing relations with the population, he said.

Foot patrols from among the force of 4,000 Marines and about 650 Afghan security personnel are canvassing villages and talking to elders about their needs, Nicholson said in a telephone news conference from Afghanistan.

“It’s heavy work, it’s hot work, but it’s important work,” Nicholson said of the small-group interactions aimed at improving relations with civilians in Helmand, a Taliban stronghold and the center of the illicit opium trade that funds the insurgency.

“That will start with that first cup of tea,” Nicholson said. “I tell my guys, ‘Be prepared to drink a lot of tea and eat a lot of bread,’ because this is a long haul and we’re going to have to build their confidence one cup of tea at a time.”

U.S.-led troops and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization are stepping up the offensive against Taliban militants in an effort to stabilize the country before national elections on Aug. 20.

The Obama administration has made combating Taliban and al- Qaeda extremists in Afghanistan and neighboring Pakistan a priority and shifted the emphasis from the war in Iraq.

Template for Strategy

The Helmand operation is the first conducted under the new strategy and is a likely template for future incursions in southern Afghanistan as U.S. troop levels grow to 68,000 later this year from about 57,000 today.

“The first thing we didn’t want the people of Helmand River Valley to see is Marines arriving and immediately throwing up barriers and hiding” behind them, Nicholson said. “We’re not out in the desert. We’re going to be in there with the people.”

British and American forces are taking part in parallel operations in southern Helmand province.

The British military began its operation on June 19 north of the provincial capital, Lashkar Gah, to secure canal and river crossings and establish a permanent NATO presence in the area. The U.S. operation in Helmand began July 2.

“We were prepared for a very tough fight,” Nicholson said. “We were prepared for the Taliban to contest every inch of terrain. We knew we had to come in and be strong, and I think we have done that.”

Restoring Control

Under the Pentagon’s new counterinsurgency strategy, forces aim to hold Taliban-dominated areas to let Afghan forces and officials restore government control.

President Hamid Karzai’s government controls only eight of Helmand’s 13 districts, according to provincial authorities.

U.S. and NATO troops have visited Helmand province before in transient operations but didn’t stay. This operation will be different, Nicholson said.

“Where we finally select our firm bases, and where we build our company and platoon combat outposts, will largely be dependent upon the advice we get from the local elders,” he said.

“We are so very focused on that population and separating them from the Taliban,” he said. “We’ve learned a hell of a lot from Iraq.”

To contact the reporter on this story: Tony Capaccio at acapaccio@bloomberg.net

Last Updated: July 8, 2009 13:53 EDT