(S (S (BASENP (JJ French) (NNS troops)) (VP (VBP have) (VP (VBN been) (VP (VP (VP (VBG fighting) (BASENP (DT the) (NNP Taliban))) (ADVP (RB northeast) (PP (IN of) (NP (BASENP (DT the) (NN capital)) (PRN (COMMA ,) (BASENP (NNP Kabul)) (COMMA ,)))))) (S (VP (TO to) (VP (VB try) (S (VP (TO to) (VP (VB secure) (NP (BASENP (NNS towns) (CC and) (NNS roads)) (VP (VBN threatened) (PP (IN by) (BASENP (DT the) (NNS militants))))))))))))))) (PERIOD .))