the ambush was mostly improvised by local leaders of the hezb-e-islami gulbuddin, later reinforced by taliban, given the size of the operation, and villagers affiliated with either of these organisations. the ambush was part of a larger plan to surround kabul, as it occurred on a road to jalalabad, on which 70% of nato supplies transit. orders were given by the headquarters of hezb-e-islami gulbuddin, in pakistan, in liaison with taliban.