KANDAHAR AIRFIELD - The child suffers severe spina bifida but the parents - paralyzed by fear of Taliban reprisal - never sought a doctor.
"The Taliban disallow everything of that nature because they want to control every aspect of society," said Lt.-Col. Jerry Walsh, who last month led allied troops into the North Panjwaji District village, a former Taliban stronghold southwest of Kandahar City.
"Villages we go in, children have horrible infections and deformities because the parents are not allowed to bring them to Kandahar City."
The child with spina bifida was discovered and evaluated by Canadian medics during Day 2 of the Operation Hydra, whose purpose was to sweep the village of insurgents.
"Improvised explosive devices (IEDs) are going off and here we are addressing the needs of this child and the parents are pleading, 'Don't let the Taliban hurt us,'" said Walsh, Joint Task Force Battle Group commanding officer from 1 Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry in Edmonton.
The village, one of two secured in the area last month, had been what Walsh describes as a Taliban "training camp."
Between 50 and 100 Taliban insurgents called the village home.
"There was kind of an IED kill-zone," said Walsh, adding Canadian soldiers and Afghan National Army (ANA) troops, with information from locals, cleared a dozen of the roadside bombs the first day.
As with any criminal organization, said Walsh, there are layers of coordination within the insurgency.
Men between the ages of 16 and 27, "just like in Canada," are recruited to transport goods for operations.
"It's almost like hooliganism. Because they're bored, there's nothing else going on. They're mules just like there are many drug mules. They're not Taliban - they're certainly not extremists."
Then there are medium-level operators, who direct actions, like IED placement. The upper echelon includes the mortar specialists and the IED specialists.
For these extremists, "the jihad, the western infidels are very real," said Walsh.
"The goal is to regain power."
But slowly fears are abiding. Villagers are beginning to feel confident passing along tips. Forces are gaining ground passing out pre-paid calling cards to generate tips since the area is awash with cell phone and networks.
And ANA soldiers are often quick to spot the enemy.
When security forces come across someone who is acting suspiciously, or someone who ANA members do not recognize as local, there will be questioning.
That can lead to further investigation, like testing hands for explosives residue, swabbing down suspect motorcycles or bikes, swabbing behind their ears.
If such testing pops up positive, suspects can still be cleared if they can prove they use firearms for hunting game, for example. Security forces will make return visits to ensure the hunter is who he claims to be.
