Russia did pay extremists to attack US soldiers in Afghanistan, according to 3 separate Taliban sources
Wajuk Kohsar/AFP via Getty Images
President Donald Trump has since strongly denied that he was told of this intelligence, and has attacked its credibility, characterizing the existence of Russian bounty payments as fake. Two are actively involved with the Taliban, and one is now a refugee in Greece who came in 2016. All stressed that they personally had not undertaken Russian bounty operations, and disparaged the practice in general.The refugee spoke anonymously to Insider for fear of retaliation, though his identity is known to Insider. He used to be a commander with the Taliban in the Logar Province of Afghanistan.
But he was skeptical that accepting such payments would advance the Taliban's cause in the long term. "These people will not just leave," he said. "They did not spend the money because we are friends. They spent it to kill their American enemies."Moulani Baghdadi, a current Taliban commander from Ghazni Province, provided Insider a statement via a family member.
A third Taliban official discussed the situation with Insider via Facebook from Pakistan. The official, whom Insider reached via a trusted intermediary, did not give a name.
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