In the later half of the Soviet-Afghan War, Hekmatyar received aid from Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and the United States. According to the ISI, their decision to allocate the highest percentage of covert aid to Hekmatyar was based on his record as an effective and most Popular anti-Soviet and Anti-communist military commander in Afghanistan. Others describe his position as the result of having almost no grassroots support and no military base inside Afghanistan, and thus being the much more dependent on Pakistani President Zia-ul-Haq's protection and financial largesse than other mujahideen factions.