Caliph Walid quickly reconfirms Qutayba as governor, and even makes his province independent from the governor of Iraq, but Qutayba's position is not secure: the Arab army is tired of constant campaigning and is still riven by factional rivalries, while Qutayba himself has alienated the most powerful Arab tribal groups.

He is generally popular among the native Iranians, but the leader of the native auxiliaries, Hayyan an-Nabati, has secretly turned against him.

Qutayba is completely unaware of the situation however, and began preparations for the campaign of 715, during which he intends to finally capture the Ferghana Valley and complete the subjugation of the Jaxartes valley.

His only concern is that his old rival, Yazid ibn al-Muhallab, might be restored to the Caliph's favor after al-Hajjaj's death, and he takes few precautions except for removing his family and belongings from Merv to Shash and placing a guard on the Oxus.