The local police chief in Kabul says he's glad that Canadian soldiers are in his city. "It's true, we have many problems here," he says. "So many, I don't know where to start."

Gen. Abdul Qudous, the District 3 Chief, spoke to CTV's Matt McClure as the Canadians, now leading the international security mission, took to the streets for the first time.

He and others on the Afghan police say families of the Canadian soldiers shouldn't worry about their safety -- that most people want them here because they need the help.

The Canadians have taken over leading the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Kabul this month.

Earlier in the week they set out on the streets of Jamal Meena, a bombed-out neigbourhood in west Kabul. The temperatures pushed 40 C, but the mood was calm, and the people they talked to were friendly. It was a small start at building trust.

"We must get out on the ground," Lt.-Col. Don Denne told CTV. "We must intermingle with the people. We must get information in order to do our job."

But the Germans troops they'll replace here say patrolling on foot entails risk, and not all the dangers are easy to spot.

"Be careful once you do the night patrols," Lt. Buerger Krauss told the Canadians. "Especially at night, you never know what's going on the small streets."

Among the threats these soldiers may encounter: Robberies, organized crime and, worst of all, surprise attacks by a resurgent Taliban.

The 31-nation ISAF was created in December 2001 to bolster security in the wake of the U.S.-led war on terror that saw the Taliban ousted.

A transitional government in Afghanistan is still struggling to maintain day-to-day continuity, and elections are due to be held next summer.