The New York Times: On an old Cold War battlefield where Russia fought a nearly decade-long war against United States-supplied fighters, Moscow has a new strategy: the cold shoulder. “We won’t join the useless events, and we’ve already told the Americans,” President Vladimir V. Putin’s envoy to Afghanistan, Zamir N. Kabulov, told Russian state news media this
Antiwar.com: The claim is extremely light on evidence, centering on Russia’s report back in December that they’ve shared ISIS intelligence with the Taliban, and anecdotal claims that a lot of the Taliban seem to have newer-looking AK-47 rifles. Click here to read more (external link).
VOA News Ayaz Gul January 20, 2016 ISLAMABAD—Afghan officials say a suicide car bomb attack near the Russian Embassy in the capital Kabul has killed at least four people, including three women. Health ministry director Mohammad Ismail Kawasi told VOA at least 28 other people were wounded in the blast Wednesday. No one has claimed
The Washington Post: Russia will ship small arms to Afghanistan next month, a top diplomat announced Wednesday, expanding Moscow’s role as the United States winds down its military mission even as the Taliban and other militants appear to gain ground. Click here to read more (external link). Related Khaama Press: Afghan forces to receive 10,000 Ak-47s from
Khaama Press: “The rapid growth of this group [IS] that appeared in Afghanistan in summer of 2014, its intention to ‘swallow’ other extremist groups, draw militants of all kinds into its ranks, in particular Taliban fighters themselves, redistribute sources of income, including such lucrative sources as drug trafficking – all these factors are very worrying for
Khaama Press: Taliban have rejected the report of a meeting between their Supreme Leader Mullah Akhtar Mohammad Mansour and Russian President Vladimir Putin. “A British newspaper ‘The Sunday Times’ published a report claiming that the leader of Islamic Emirate, Amir ul Mumineen Mullah Akhtar Muhammad Mansoor, held a meeting in Tajikistan in the month of September with
Khaama Press: The Russian Ambassador to Afghanistan Alexander Mantytskiy briefed the Afghan authorities regarding the reports surrounding Moscow’s attempts to establish a communication channel with Taliban in fight against the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) terrorist group affiliates in Afghanistan. Click here to read more (external link).
Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty December 27, 2015 The Taliban has denied that it held talks with Russian officials about efforts to combat Islamic State (IS) militants in Afghanistan as a British newspaper reported that President Vladimir Putin had met the group’s leader earlier this year. The insurgent group was responding to December 23
Khaama Press: Parliament on Saturday objected Russia’s contacts with Taliban calling it interference in Afghan affairs. “There are concerns that Afghanistan might become a battle field for world powers,” said MP Sayed Mohammad Hassan, adding that “Fate of the people would resemble to that of Iraq and Syria.” Click here to read more (external link).
Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty December 23, 2015 A senior Russian diplomat says Russia’s interests in Afghanistan “objectively coincide” with those of the Taliban in the fight against the Islamic State extremist group. Russia has established communication channels to exchange information with the Taliban movement, Zamir Kabulov, Russian president’s special envoy on Afghanistan, told the Interfax