KABUL - Russia a few years back established contact with Taliban about the release of a pilot from their captivity and except that Moscow has no relationship with the rebels, the Meshrano Jirga chairman quoted the country’s ambassador Zamir Kabulov saying on Tuesday.
Fazl Hadi Muslimyar’s remarks come as Kabulov, also special envoy of Russian President Vladimir Putin in Afghanistan, last month told Interfox, a Russian news agency, that Moscow had established contact with Taliban in Afghanistan to fight against Daesh or so-called Islamic State (IS) as ‘joint enemy.’
However, Muslimyar told today’s session: “Yesterday Kabulov came to Meshrano Jirga and denied he never said Russia was in contact with Taliban for fighting against Daesh.”
He quoted the ambassador as saying: “Only for once a few years back Russia to get released a pilot contacted Taliban and Dr. Rangin Dadfar Spanta, former president’s advisor, was in the loop.”
Kabulov told senators he would provide further explanation to a joint sitting of the upper house panels on foreign and defense affairs on Saturday, Muslimyar said, asking Russia to prove it hadn’t been in contact with Taliban.
However, senator Jumauddin Giyanwal said Russia had even equipped Taliban insurgents with military gear in a number of Afghanistan provinces.
Lawmaker Nazar Mohammad Faqiri said: “Russia through Tajikistan had given Taliban weapons and ammunition.” According to him, Russia shouldn’t be trusted because the country wants to deceive Afghans.” (Pajhwok)