Russia 'funds the Taliban by $2.5m a month for anti-NATO operations in Afghanistan'

[Insight]

href="http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/russia-funds-taliban-by-2-5m-month-anti-nato-operations-afghanistan-1643247" target="_blank Russia 'funds the Taliban by $2.5m a month for anti-NATO operations in Afghanistan' Moscow has reportedly stepped ups its help for the group via laundered fuel sales. Brendan Cole By Brendan Cole October 16, 2017 00:40 BST Russia is funding the Taliban in Afghanistan by giving its chiefs multi-million dollar payments to counter operations by NATO, it has been reported. The Times said that fuel tankers are sent into Afghanistan via the Uzbekistan border and are delivered to front companies working for the militants, with the sale of the fuel raising around $2.5m cash for the group. A Taliban treasurer told the paper: "We sell the fuel on and distribute the money directly to our commanders. Accepting money from the Russians is not something we like doing, but it is necessary at this stage of our jihad." "I just deal with the finances of a few Taliban commanders in one sector in one province. I transfer them the money and then account for its distribution. But there are many other people like me," he added. The treasurer said the Russians started supplying them with fuel 18 months ago with the group getting it for free, but paying the import duty and keeping the profits. The fuel is sold via front companies to businessmen in Kabul. This is the first time the Taliban has admitted publicly it gets Russian support although Moscow has been repeatedly accused by Washington of backing the insurgents. Afghan security forces As part of their spring offensive, Taliban militants have captured Qala-i-Zal district, west of Kunduz city in northern Afghanistan, on Saturday, 6 May - File photo of Afghan forces fighting TalibanReuters A senior adviser to the Quetta Shura, the Taliban leadership in Pakistan told the Times that the Russians longer had any faith in the government in Kabul to stem the rise of Isis and wanted the Taliban to maintain its strength to fend the Islamists off. "They have got three aims in dealing with us: defeat Islamic State, undermine the US-supported Afghan government and humiliate and hurt Nato," he said. Nato has 13,000 troops inside Afghanistan, including around 500 Britons.

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Not surprising. Taliban have made significant gains these past couple of years, the insurgency is quite successful, they recently overran a few more districts. Trump's plan for a new surge is sure to backfire, the Taliban will only be strengthened by it. Daesh has been devastated by the collapse of their "caliphate", which was their single selling point to persuade defections from the Taliban to their side. Daesh have been exposed as nothing more than filthy Kharijite dogs that worship Satan. Taliban should take advantage of their distinction from Daesh and other fanatical Kharijite groups in order to increase their popularity. As I've said on the thread about Honor Code of Taliban, they have to disavow terrorism tactics and suicide bombings and fight in the pattern of the 1980s Mujahideen. They should focus on targeting foreign targets and not be too punitive against the Kabul government, whom they should continue to engage at the negotiation table. They should give a positive response to the invitations for peace and dialogue coming from Hekmatyar and other influential figures.