27 minutes agoSoldiers of Afghan Special Units, who have fought in support of American troops, cross into Russian camp
Periskopi(4 years ago)
(4 years ago)Soldiers of Afghan special units, who have fought in support of American troops who have fled to Iran for US withdrawal last year, are now being recruited by the Russian Army to fight in Ukraine, the Associated Press agency told three former Afghan generals. They said Russia wants to recruit thousands of former Afghan elites “ [...]
They said Russia wants to recruit thousands of former Afghan elites “into the Foreign Legion”, offering monthly payments of $1,500 by offering housing to them and their families and guarantees that they would not be deported to Afghanistan, where many believe they would face death in the hands of the Taliban.
“They don't want to go to war, but they don't have a choice”, said one of the generals, Abdul Raof Arghandial, adding that dozens of commandos in Iran, with whom he communicated via messages, are afraid they will be deported to Afghanistan. “Give me a solution? What should we do? If we go back to Afghanistan the Taliban will kill us”
Arghandywaal said the conscription of commandos is being led by the Wagner mercenary group. The next general, Hibatullah Alysali, who was chief of the Afghan Army before the Taliban took power, said the recruiting efforts are also being assisted by former commanders of Afghan special forces living in Russia and speaking Russian.
Reports of recruits follow warnings from American soldiers who fought with Afghan Special Forces that the Taliban would kill these soldiers if they join US enemies just to save themselves.
A report by the US Republican Party, published in August, warned particularly of the danger that Afghan commandos ʹ trained by American forces could provide information to the militant group, the Islamic State, Iran or Russia about American Army tactics. The report also said that there is a danger that these soldiers will join in war against these states and groups.
Also, reports of Afghan recruiting come at a time when Russian forces are facing the Russian military advances of Ukraine, pushing Russian President Vladimir Putin who ordered the invasion of Ukraine on February 24th to declare military mobilization, forcing almost 200,000 Russians to leave the state in order to avoid mobilization.
Russia's Defence Ministry has not responded to comment on the issue. Meanwhile, a spokesman for Yevgeny Pigozin, who has recently admitted to being founder of the Wagner group, has dismissed claims that this group is recruiting former Afghan soldiers, naming this idea as the crazy “”.
