He was then appointed amir by Fa'iq and the general Bektuzun, the same two individuals who had overthrown his brother and together controlled most of the power in the state.
Mansur's overthrow was used as a pretext by Mahmud of Ghazni to conquer the remainder of Khurasan still in the hands of the Samanids.
Bektuzun and Fa'iq, together with the ruler of Kuhistan, Abu'l-Qasim Simjuri, however, were judged to be too powerful by Mahmud.
He also gained the loyalty of Chaghaniyan and other minor states to the north of the Oxus that had hitherto been loyal vassals of the Samanids.
At this point, 'Abd al-Malik and Fa'iq (to be joined later by Bektuzun) attempted to gain enough momentum for a renewed offensive against Mahmud.