In an interview with the BBC last week, General John Nicholson reported that Russia, despite common interests in the fight against terrorism and narcotics, has been taking action to undermine U.S. efforts in Afghanistan and would do so by providing support. financial and even weapons to the Afghan Taliban.
"Weapons were delivered to us at our headquarters by Afghan leaders who told us that they had been supplied to the Taliban by the Russians," said General John Nicholson.
A statement from the Russian embassy in Kabul rejected the comments calling them mere "gossip" and reiterating previous denials already made by Russian officials. “Once again, we insist that such statements are absolutely unfounded not to say nonsense,” the embassy said.
US commanders, including Nicholson, have stated on several occasions during the past year that Russia could supply arms to the Taliban although no confirmed evidence has been made public until now.
However, Nicholson's comments were unusually curt and came against a backdrop of mounting tensions between NATO members and Moscow over the case of Sergei Skripal, a former intelligence agent found poisoned with a rare nerve agent in Britain. Russian officials said their limited contacts with the Taliban were aimed at encouraging peace talks and ensuring the security of Russian citizens. Moscow has offered to help coordinate peace talks in Afghanistan.
Taliban officials said the group had had significant contact with Moscow since at least 2007, adding that Russian involvement did not extend beyond "moral and political support".
Moscow was critical of the US and NATO for the way they handled the war in Afghanistan, but initially Russia helped provide helicopters for the Afghan army and accepted a supply route for coalition materials. through Russia. Most of this cooperation has collapsed since relations between Russia and the West have deteriorated in recent years due to conflicts in Ukraine and Syria.
Photo: born
