Top US general says 'not refuting' reports Russia supplying Taliban

Intelligence showed Russia was providing monetary and weapons support to Taliban, says senior US military official

KABUL: The head of US and international forces in Afghanistan said on Monday he was "not refuting" reports that Russia was providing support, including weapons, to the Taliban.

General John Nicholson was speaking in Kabul during a visit by US Defence Secretary Jim Mattis.

Asked about reports that Russia was providing a range of help including weapons to the Taliban, who control large areas of Afghanistan, he replied: "Oh no I'm not refuting that."



A senior US military official, speaking on condition of anonymity, told reporters that intelligence showed that Russia was providing monetary and weapons support to the Taliban, specifically weapons such as machine guns.