The Times reported that it learnt from members of the Taliban and Afghan officials  that Russia is funding Taliban military operations against NATO in Afghanistan through a covert program of laundered fuel sales.

The report said that Russia’s intelligence services are sending fleets of fuel tankers into Afghanistan through the Hairatan border crossing with Uzbekistan to companies operating on behalf of the Taliban. 

The Times reported that about $2.5 million USD is raised in cash from the sale of this fuel each month which is then delivered directly to insurgent paymasters.

In this episode of Tawde Khabare, host Zabi Sadat discusses the topic with the following guests:

• Writer and journalist Farooq Farda

• Political affairs analyst Hekmatullah Hekmat

• Security affairs analyst Jawid Kohistani

• Uruzgan provincial council former head Amanullah Hotaki