FARAH CITY (SW): Members of provincial council in Farah claim the Taliban are equipped with advanced Russian arms.
Russians have managed to equip the Taliban in Farah via Iran, they claimed. Jamila Amini, head of provincial council, told Salam Watandar the Taliban insurgents who are fighting the Afghan National Army (ANA) in the province are better equipped than the government forces.
Naser Mehri, spokesman for provincial governor, has also said Iran and Russia have backed the Taliban insurgents in the province. “Taliban insurgents used more ammunition and mortars than the ANA in the recent clashes, it means they are better equipped”, Mehri said.
Toryalai Abdyani, provincial police chief, while confirming the presence of well-equipped insurgents, said it is not clear which country is providing advanced arms to the Taliban.
Meanwhile, the Iranian Consulate in Herat has rejected all allegations in this regard. The Russian Embassy has also rejected all the allegations. Russian authorities, however, have admitted having ties with the Taliban ‘for the safety’ of their diplomatic mission in Afghanistan.
ENDS
