The Afghan Taliban on Monday, while dismissing reports of receiving financial and military assistance from Russia or Iran, said they were still operating on their own.
The militant group’s spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid told The Express Tribune that they haven’t received any help from the Russians, while adding that “claims that Iran aids and shelters us are not true either; we reject these reports.”
He rubbished such rumours as “enemy propaganda”.
Discussing the effectiveness of the Quadrilateral Coordination Group (QCG)—which involves Pakistan, Afghanistan, China and the United States—in finding a peaceful solution to the war-torn country, the spokesperson said, “We don’t participate in the Quartet meeting because we don’t talk with the Kabul office.”
The Taliban would engage in a dialogue with the Americans, not with the Kabul Office, he added.
The QCG was set up in January 2016 to find a political solution to the Afghan conflict.
It’s crucial to note here that videos obtained by CNN in July this year concluded that the US government suspected Russian involvement in arming the Taliban with modern weaponry.
The videos showed the Taliban showcasing their sniper rifles, Kalashnikov variants and heavy machine guns which experts believe are Russian made.
