Russia arms Taliban, says top US general in Afghanistan

Salaam Times

KABUL -- Russia is supporting Taliban militants in Afghanistan and even providing them with arms, said NATO Resolute Support Mission Commander Gen. John Nicholson said in an interview published Friday (March 23).

Nicholson told BBC News he had seen "destabilising activity by the Russians," and that smugglers have delivered Russian weapons across the Tajik border to the Taliban.

"We see a narrative ... that grossly exaggerates the number of ['Islamic State of Iraq and Syria' (ISIS)] fighters here," Nicholson said. "This narrative then is used as a justification for the Russians to legitimise the actions of [the] Taliban and provide some degree of support to the Taliban."

"We've had stories written by the Taliban that have appeared in the media about financial support provided by the enemy. We've had weapons brought to this headquarters and given to us by Afghan leaders and said, this was given by the Russians to the Taliban," he continued.

"We know that the Russians are involved," he said.

Russia has denied such allegations but has admitted that it has been in contact with the Taliban.

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