On August 17, Russian intelligence sources reported that forces loyal to Saleh had managed to re-capture Charikar and the surrounding areas of Parwan Province from the Taliban.[6] Charikar is strategically located near Bagram Airbase and the Salang tunnel, along the only major road connecting Kabul and Mazar-i-Sharif.[7] Unconfirmed reports also indicate a possible alliance between Saleh's and Massoud's forces and forces loyal to Abdul Rashid Dostum, whose base of power was Mazar-i-Sharif. Dostum was reported to have retreated to Uzbekistan with some of his soldiers after the Taliban capture of Kabul.[8]