Foreign Ministry called unfounded accusations of collusion between Russia and the Taliban

02 July 2020


There is no evidence of "collusion between Moscow and the Taliban", Russian President's Special Representative for Afghanistan, Director of the second Asia Department of the Foreign Ministry Zamir Kabulov told RIA Novosti.

 

"We need proof, and we don't have it. These are unsubstantiated claims, " he said.


When asked to comment on US media reports that the intermediary between Russia and the Taliban was allegedly a drug smuggler named Rahmat Azizi, the Agency's interlocutor replied that he had never heard of such a person.


Kabulov added that after reading American articles about "collusion", more and more questions arise — " fakes also need to be prepared carefully."

 

For his part, the First Deputy Chairman of the Federation Council Committee on International Affairs, Vladimir Jabarov, in an interview with the radio station "Govorit Moskva", suggested that the publication was related to the upcoming presidential elections in the United States.


He noted that this publication defined the direction of "print media policy" in the country. Jabarov also reminded that this was a private newspaper. It, according to the Senator, expresses the position of the Democrats.


"They don't hide it. The Democrats really want to accuse Trump of colluding with us, with insidious Russia, again on the eve of the presidential election. This is the nonsense, " the Senator explained.


In his opinion, such publications reflect the internal struggle of the United States, which Russia and other countries are trying to involve in order to distract Americans from internal problems. In addition, he stressed that there was practically no Russian presence in Afghanistan.


He stressed that the Taliban gradually and systematically captured new territories and regularly attacks American soldiers, and "for this they do not need to pay, they do it with pleasure".


The Senator also stressed that Russia was solving slightly different problems in the region. In addition, the country "does not play" with drug lords.


"In this case, they are simultaneously trying to rinse Trump. By the way, Trump and other officials, including the American intelligence community, did not confirm the authenticity of this information. On the contrary, they deny that this is complete nonsense, " Jabarov reminded.


He expressed regret that the newspaper turned into a yellow press if it published "such fakes".

 

Kosachev called "absolutely ridiculous" US accusations of collusion between Russia and the Taliban


The accusations made public in the United States that Russia allegedly encouraged Afghan militants to kill American soldiers are absolutely ridiculous and absurd and are "another election nonsense". This opinion was expressed by the head of the Federation Council Committee on International Affairs Konstantin Kosachev.

 

"Of course, the absolute absurdity of the charges themselves is shocking. Since it is clear to anyone more or less versed in politics that the same Taliban themselves would pay anyone for support in the war with the Americans, the benefit of the "drug money" in Afghanistan due to the failed US mission in this country is increasing every year," Kosachev wrote on his Facebook page.


He noted that the media and odious American politicians "easily pick up the most absurd "throw-ins" about Russia, without any doubt that their audience would believe it, without even asking themselves, and, in fact, why the same Russian".


The Senator stressed that the United States had an opportunity to get out of this story with fakes about collusion, but the Americans did not take advantage of it. "Instead of using it, the angry producers of another anti - Russian purely pre-election nonsense decided to" spin" it further, " Kosachev said.


He added that US Senator Robert Menendez (from New Jersey) openly explained that the alleged details of "this disgusting Russian campaign" proved that US President Donald Trump was not able to protect the military and his country. And the speaker of the US House of Representatives, Nancy Pelosi, accused him of neglecting the duties of the commander-in-chief. "In other words, the reasons and goals of the campaign are clear and are not hidden at all," the head of the International Committee of the FC stated.

 

Тему "сговора России с талибами" подняла газета New York Times. With reference to anonymous representatives of American intelligence services, the NYT claims that Russian intelligence allegedly offered militants rewards for attacks on American soldiers in Afghanistan and that President Donald Trump was informed about this. The newspaper did not provide any evidence.


Trump called the article commissioned — according to him, it was directed against himself and against the Republican party. The White House, the Pentagon and US intelligence agencies said they had no confirmation of this information and that Trump had not been informed of any such information.


The Russian Foreign Ministry also called the NYT report a fake, and Russian Presidential Press Secretary Dmitry Peskov expressed regret that the once-respected major media didn't disdain such "absolute hoaxes".

 

GSV "Russia - Islamic World"

Photo: Creative Commons