ZHARI- Fifty meters outside the walls of the Pir Mohammed school, it is no man’s land -the Taliban roam free.

The school, which was built by US forces in 2002, was closed by the Taliban a few years later after Afghan security forces took responsibility for the area. Today it is a joint American and Afghan base – and the forward most point for coalition troops in Zhari, Kandahar – the spiritual birthplace of the Taliban.

As US and Afghan forces prepare to go out on patrol Monday morning, white kites fly over the city. The Taliban are signaling that coalition troops are on the move.

“They are waiting for us out there. They know we are coming,” says Lieutenant Cory Donohoo, a native of West Virginia.

The joint American and Afghan patrol sets out from the base with the hope of heading to a near by town for some face time with locals – a key part of the American strategy in Afghanistan

“Once we get into these fields,” explains Captain Nick Stout, the company commander. “This is their territory.”

The Taliban’s territory is a mixture of rocky canals, ten-foot tall mud walls, and dense fields of pomegranate and marijuana.

It is an area, the soldiers of the Alpha Company, 1-502 2^nd Brigade Combat Team, 101^st Airborne Division, are just getting to know after arriving earlier this summer.

But the insurgents know it well, and move around easily from building to building unimpeded.

Just a few minutes into the patrol, it is clear the Taliban are near and know the troops are approaching.

“Hey six, those pop shots are getting closer,” yells out one soldier.

Radio traffic also picks up the Taliban talking about an ambush.

As the patrol enters the large opening of the canal, villagers watch the advancing troops. The soldiers don’t know if they are there accidentally or part of a first warning system used by the Taliban.

Minutes later, gunfire erupts.

Insurgents have two US and Afghan squads pinned down along the waterway. It is a textbook “L” shaped ambush by an enemy that US commanders acknowledge are well disciplined and organized.

The battle rages for more than 30 minutes. With the Taliban firing rocket propelled grenades and a hail of bullets at coalition troops.

US and Afghan troops return fire as the ground shakes from the explosions of the grenades being thrown.

Ultimately, the fighting slows and the Taliban disappear as quickly as they arrived- filtering back into the maze of mud buildings and thick vegetation.

The scorching heat and intense battle forces the American and Afghan troops to return to the school after only advancing 400 meters from their base and without speaking to the villagers in the near by town.

Despite the meager progress, the advance represents the farthest US troops have pushed up the canal, and Captain Stout is encouraged.

“There is really no other way to do this.  You got to keep getting after it. Keep trying to hold what ground you gain. Over time that ground will expand.”

With the Taliban around seemingly every corner, progress for now in Zhari Kandahar is measured in just meters not milestones.