The Taliban claim they have captured the towns of Imam Sahib and Dasht-i-Archi, two vital points on the highway north to Takhar province and the Tajikistan border. But before they can continue their advance to Takhar, the Taliban must take Khanabad. The UN has accused several nations, especially those neighboring Afghanistan (Uzbekistan, Pakistan, Turkmenistan, Tajikistan, Iran and China) of providing resources that are keeping the fighting going. Russia and China were also mentioned as being involved. The Northern Alliance claimed that they had captured seventy Pakistani and Arab troops who were serving with the Taliban.