Russian bonuses paid in Afghanistan to kill American soldiers?

U.S. soldiers at Connelly Coalition Operations Base (FOB), located in the Khogyani District, in the eastern province of Nangarhar, Afghanistan. WAKIL KOHSAR / AFP

Text by: RFI Follow

Has Russia paid bonuses to insurgents for carrying out attacks on American soldiers deployed in Afghanistan? The American press ensures that yes, Donald Trump denies him and denounces fanciful information.

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From our correspondent in New York, Loubna Anaki

The information was first revealed by the New York Times , and later confirmed by the Washington Post and the Wall Street Journal . According to these media, which quote American intelligence officials, over the past year, Russian agents have paid money to fighters close to the Taliban to kill American soldiers. At least one soldier was reportedly the victim of these targeted attacks, reports the NewYork Times.

Also according to the press, the president and officials of the White House were made aware of this information last March, without any investigation or action being ordered.

Donald Trump immediately denied the revelations this weekend on Twitter, again accusing the New York Times of reporting false information. No one briefed me or the vice president about these so-called attacks on our troops in Afghanistan,  " he wrote.

In another tweet late last night, he said the intelligence services did not find the information credible and therefore did not speak to him about it. The new director of national intelligence also denied this information. Same position on the part of Moscow and the Taliban.

Denials that are far from convincing in Congress. Democrats, but also Republicans, are now demanding explanations from the White House.

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  • United States
  • Afghanistan
  • Taliban
  • Russia