The overwhelming majority in the province comprises Taliban sympathizers, including many inthe local administration. The province is surrounded by the most difficult mountainous terrain and there is anetwork of Taliban safe havens as well as a widespread support base among local tribes. The support of thelocal tribesmen was critical in eventually ensuring that the 48 Taliban cadres were set free by the Afghanadministration.
Strategically speaking, the Zabul province is the birthplace of the Taliban. It was the first province to beoccupied by the student militia when they emerged against the warlordism of different Jehadi factions in theearly 1990s. Even after the US toppled the Taliban Government, this is the place that has been occupied by theTaliban several times over the past weeks.