[Collins:] Senior U.S. officials tell CNN the Obama administration is willing to hold talks with Taliban commanders holed up in northern Pakistan. The officials say Pakistan has offered to broker the talks aimed at negotiating a cease-fire in Afghanistan. In exchange, the Pakistani government wants the U.S. to use its influence to reign in Pakistan's main military rival, and that would be India. Pakistanis accuse India of supporting arm separatist within their borders. Senior U.S. officials tell CNN the U.S. is willing to raise those concerns with India. Two U.S. Marines are dead in fighting in southern Afghanistan. Both were killed fighting the Taliban in Helmand Province. The first week of the expanded offensive there has been largely successful, with the Marines taking new ground. CNN's Atia Abawi was with those troops in Helmand Province.
[Atia Abawi, Cnn International Correspondent:] Flying with the U.S. Marines into an area of Helmand Province that was once considered Taliban land. Just five days after operation Strike of the Sword began, the governor of Helmand stepped into a district that he could not before because it was too dangerous. Raising the Afghan flag over Khanashin District, a symbol of new governance and change. It was a moment that was likened to Iwo Jima by Marine Brig. Gen. Larry Nicholson. A moment that they hope will symbolize a turn in the war here. [on camera]: This castle was built in the 1700s during the time of King Dorani the father of Afghanistan. For the past several years, this castle in this district was occupied by the Taliban. But today the U.S. Marines and the coalition forces gave it back to the government and the people of Helmand Province. For the past three years, Khanashin was under strict Taliban control. Now this district of around 2,000 waits to see what its future holds. Some hopeful, but many skeptical. They have seen this all before. Coalition forces coming in and quickly leaving, and the Taliban always making their way back. But this time, the troops and the government promise to stay and build institutions and most importantly trust.
[Gov. Gulab Mangal, Helmand Province, Afghanistan:] I tried to reassure the people that until our own Afghan forces can stand on their own two feet, the international forces will help us.
[Abawi:] Although the people believe the governor is a kind man, this village elder points the finger at him, still distrustful of the intentions of the Afghan government. Villagers in Helmand like the ones here have in the past turned to the Taliban for protection. Feeling at times it was their only own choice. But the forces hope to show these men that there is an alternative to their current less than rudimentary existence.
[Gen. Mayahadeen Gori, Afghan National Army:] You can see with your own camera what terrorism is and what al Qaeda is. You can see a deficient school, a deficient clinic, deficient district, deficient roads. People don't have the matter or means of living.
[Abawi:] And although troops haven't met much resistance yet, General Nicholson warns this is only a week into the operation. And like the villagers, the Taliban have their own expectations.
[Brig. Gen. Larry Nicholson, U.s. Marine Corps:] So perhaps the Taliban is also expecting us to leave. And I think once they understand that we're not leaving, I think in some cases they will test us, they will come back at us and they will try to get back to the population.
[Abawi:] And it's the population who will have to choose. A decision that will determine the country's future.
[Collins:] And Atia Abawi is joining us now live from Kabul, Afghanistan. So, Atia, this has been a costly week for the U.S. military, as well, in Afghanistan. But wondering what you're noticing from the Afghan people by way of their thoughts on this new effort by the U.S. marines.
[Abawi:] Well, Heidi, we have to remember that this area, Khanashin District, that has been handed back to the Afghan government is also an area where they have seen coalition forces before. They have been promised before that these coalition forces would stay and help, but there wasn't enough manpower back then and then they left. And these villagers had to deal with the Taliban. Those who did side with the coalition, they were punished. And right now they're skeptical. They're waiting to see if these U.S. marines, these coalition forces in the Afghan government will actually hold on to their promise. And what we heard from General Larry Nicholson with the U.S. Marines says that are there to stay, that they are there to build institutions and to build trust, and to prove to these villagers that they are the choice rather than the Taliban. Heidi?
[Collins:] All right, Atia Abawi, watching all of it from the ground there in Kabul, Afghanistan. We sure do appreciate the update. And as a reminder, the casualties do punctuate a deadly week for U.S. troops across Afghanistan. A total of 11 died in attacks this week alone. The bodies of several of those killed in action this week arrived at Dover Air Force Base. Joint Chiefs Chairman Admiral Mike Mullen was there to honor the fallen. 643 American troops have died in action in Afghanistan since operation enduring freedom began in 2001. Almost relatively quiet now in Urumqi, China. Major mosques remain closed today in the wake of violent demonstrations there. At least 156 people were killed. More than 1,000 injured on Sunday. That's when ethnic tensions erupted, between the Uighurs who predominantly are Muslim and China's Han majority. Nearly one month after the election in Iran, the protests may have slowed down a bit, but they certainly are not over. We'll take a closer look at what's going on in Iran and the impact it may have on the country's president.