As noted in the article with reference to intelligence and Afghan officials, we are talking about drug smuggler Rahmat Azizi.
Earlier, The New York Times, citing sources, published its first article alleging that Russian military intelligence allegedly offered rewards to Taliban-related militants for attacks on American soldiers in Afghanistan.
Later, the Russian Foreign Ministry called this publication "unpretentious stuffing." As noted in the department, this clearly illustrates the "low intellectual ability of propagandists from American intelligence."
They emphasized that in Afghanistan "the involvement of members of the American intelligence community in drug trafficking, cash payments to militants for the passage of transport caravans, and kickbacks from contracts for the implementation of various projects paid by American taxpayers is no secret."
US President Donald Trump, in turn, called the article "ordering."
The Taliban spokesman also said the movement “strongly rejects” the newspaper’s allegations.
* "Taliban" - the organization was recognized as terrorist by the decision of the Supreme Court of the Russian Federation of February 14, 2003.