Despite suffering casualties, NATO and its allies are pushing ahead with the military operation.

Two NATO soldiers have been killed so far, including one from Britain. But UK Foreign Secretary, David Miliband, said it was too early to discuss withdrawing British troops from Afghanistan.

David Miliband, UK Foreign Secretary, said, "Well I think that two days into this operation, it's premature to start talking in that term. The allegiance of the local population is won over months and not over days. But what's clearly happened is that we're in a decisive year in the Afghan campaign, as I've said to you on many occasions, and Helmand Province is a decisive province and this part of Helmand Province is a decisive centre. It's as if you like, the nerve centre of the insurgency and of the narcotics industry. That's what explains the very high degree of planning that's gone into this operation."

Britain's Foreign Secretary David Miliband listens, during a joint press conference in London, Thursday Jan. 28, 2010.