Russian Intelligence Paid Taliban Fighters for Attacks on US Forces, Investigation Finds

Russian military intelligence allegedly funded Taliban attacks on US forces in Afghanistan, offering payments up to $200,000 per killed soldier through a network disguised as a gemstone trading company.

(Kabul) – A detailed investigation has uncovered that Russia’s military intelligence agency, the GRU, allegedly financed Taliban fighters and other militant groups in Afghanistan to target US and coalition forces between 2016 and 2019. According to reports by The Insider and Der Spiegel, payments of up to $200,000 were offered for each successful attack, with the scheme reportedly costing Russia an estimated $30 million.

The operation allegedly relied on a network of Afghan couriers who disguised their activities as part of a gemstone trading business. After completing their missions, these couriers were reportedly provided with Russian documents and asylum.

Funding Scheme Through Couriers

Statements from former Afghan officials with the National Directorate of Security (NDS) indicate that funds were funneled through an intricate courier system overseen by Rahmatullah Azizi, a key Afghan operative. Azizi is said to have been recruited by GRU’s elite Unit 29155 in 2015. He ran a front company trading gemstones and distributed funds to Taliban-linked groups.

Azizi relocated to Moscow in 2019, shortly before Afghan authorities uncovered the operation. His Moscow-based company, ARIGS Ltd, worked in coordination with a similar entity in Kabul run by his family. Investigators revealed that Azizi used a Russian passport with a serial number resembling those issued to other GRU operatives.

High-Level Coordination

The investigation names Lieutenant General Ivan Kasyanenko, deputy commander of GRU’s 29155 unit, as a central figure in the operation. Kasyanenko, a former military attaché in Tehran, reportedly traveled frequently between Moscow and Kabul from 2014 to 2020.

Colonel Alexey Arkhipov, another GRU officer, is identified as the primary contact for Taliban operatives. Evidence of Arkhipov’s involvement was reportedly found in intercepted emails and metadata from phone calls.

Another operative, Par Khan Gul Zafar, allegedly worked under Arkhipov’s direction, managing courier networks and coordinating travel for agents between Russia, Afghanistan, and neighboring countries.

Attacks and Alleged Obstruction

The GRU’s payments reportedly fueled numerous attacks, leading to significant casualties among coalition forces. Despite the severity of the allegations, official investigations were reportedly obstructed by Afghan officials and hindered by the US government’s reluctance to acknowledge the scheme’s existence.

This new investigation builds on reports from The New York Times in 2020, which cited intercepted financial transactions linking the GRU to the Taliban. Critics at the time accused the US government of failing to adequately address the allegations.

Broader Implications

The findings further expose the depth of Russian involvement in destabilizing Afghanistan during its conflict with US and NATO forces. The revelations come as the Russian State Duma considers legislation to remove the Taliban from its list of terrorist organizations, signaling a potential shift in Russia’s approach to the group.