Both Afghani and Russian officials have commented on allegations of Moscow supporting the Taliban.
“There have been certain rumors that the Russians are linked with the Taliban and help it, but we do not have any evidence at the moment,” acting Afghan Defense Minister Tariq Shah Bahrami told reporters.
The Russian Foreign Ministry has also dismissed allegations of weapons being supplied to the Taliban as “absurd and baseless,” while the Russian presidential envoy to Afghanistan, Zamir Kabulov, told that the claims are a lie aimed at justifying the failed US mission in Afghanistan.
Several US officials have spread such claims, with US State Secretary Rex Tillerson directly accusing Russia of supplying weapons to the Taliban.
While blaming Russia for allegedly supporting the Taliban despite the fact that it only maintains contact with the militants to promote national peace talks, Tillerson stated that the US sees a place for “moderate” members of the terrorist group in the Afghan government.