Title: Million Dollar Talib: How Russia Funded Terrorists in Afghanistan
The shadowy tale of a multi-million dollar payout by Russia to Talibani fighters, terrorists, and militias in Afghanistan has been unearthed by an investigation led by a joint team of journalists from Russian and international outlets. The payments, ranging from 2016 to 2019, were facilitated by a secretive courier network disguised as a precious gem trading company, with ties extending from the war-torn landscape of Afghanistan to the heart of Europe.
The Mastermind
At the helm of the clandestine operation was General Lieutenant Ivan Kasyaenko, then the deputy commander of the 29155th Unit, notorious for its alleged role in the attempted poisoning of former Russian intelligence officer Sergei Skripal in the U.K. in 2018. The operatives were directed by Colonel Alexei Arhipov, who used the alias Aleksey Titov to facilitate his movements.
The Courier Network
The cash, totaling a staggering $30 million, was funneled through Rahmatullah Azizi, a former Kunduz-based smuggling kingpin. Azizi, now a Moscow resident with a Russian passport under the name Rahim Ahmadov, oversaw the operations. His passport number is eerily similar to that of GRU agent Anatoly Chepiga, who used the alias Ruslan Boshirov in the Skripal case.
From Afghanistan to Europe
The courier network wasn’t confined to the Afghani borders. Some operatives even sought refuge in the European Union, with at least two finding temporary haven in Germany, according to a Spiegel report.
The Payoff
Each US or coalition soldier killed by the terror acts using Russian money commanded a hefty $200,000. The payments were a brazen attempt to destabilize Afghanistan and sow chaos among international forces, the investigation concluded.
As the world watches the dust settle in Afghanistan following the fall of the Western-backed government, these allegations shine a harsh light on the geopolitical games played behind the scenes, highlighting Russia’s calculated efforts to disrupt and undermine its enemies.
