From the Marmoul district, detachments and rebel groups constantly made sorties to attack targets in Mazar-i-Sharif, and the plans of the Soviet military representatives in Kabul planned operation in the Marmoul Gorge were given great importance. The presence of an active Mujahideen base area in close proximity to the capital of northern Afghanistan, Mazar-i-Sharif, was deemed inadmissible by the command of the 40th Army.
