The criminal actions of mercenaries from private military companies against civilians in Afghanistan need to be investigated. This was stated on Thursday at a briefing by the official representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry Maria Zakharova, commenting on the topic touched upon in the report of the American online edition The Intercept about the crimes against Afghan civilians of private military companies that operate in this country under the cover of American intelligence agencies.
The diplomat pointed out that according to the information made public, in 2018-2019, these formations, which are estimated to number about 20-25 thousand people, were involved in the killing, kidnapping, torture of Afghan civilians.
"We believe that the criminal actions of the mercenaries against Afghan civilians should be investigated. The perpetrators must be severely punished," Zakharova said. - "In connection with the line announced by [current US President Donald] Trump to reduce the US military presence in Afghanistan, the question certainly arises about the intentions of the American side regarding the fate of these PMCs, what will happen to them.
As announced in mid-November, Christopher Miller, acting US Defense Secretary, only 2.5 thousand US servicemen will remain in Afghanistan by January 15, 2021. Currently, about 4.5 thousand US servicemen are deployed in Afghanistan.
GSV "Russia - Islamic World"
Photo: Creative Commons
Based on materials from TASS