 By July 1998 the Taliban had taken control of much of the area north of Herat, including the road linked to Maimana.On August 8, 1998, the Taliban re-entered Mazar-e Sharif.Some Hezb-e Islami Gulbuddin forces joined the Taliban during that time encircling the front lines of Hezb-i Wahdat at Qalai-Zaini-Takhta Pul.