The Taliban Advance toward Mazar-e-Sharif

Abstract

When Massoud’s Dostam’s forces advanced on Kabul and captured the area north of the capital, the Taliban opened another front to reduce the concentration of forces against their front line in Kabul. In early November 1996, the Taliban advanced into the province of Badghis, northeast of Herat, which was controlled by Dostam forces. For the Taliban, advancing northeast was a significant military tactic that held two goals.