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[kruis]

The claims that the Russians are helping the Taliban is in complete contradiction with the report from German magazine "Die Zeit" that's linked in the NPR article:

"Currently, Russia is only supporting Afghanistan with helicopters and is active with technicians and trainers," says Meister. Since 2016, there has been official cooperation between the two countries under which Russia provides Afghanistan with military-technical assistance. "If NATO withdraws from Afghanistan in 2017, Russia could begin to worry that terrorism in the country will spread. The Taliban could further destabilize Russia's Central Asian neighbors." That, Meister says, is a real danger, for Russia in particular.

 

[Phantast2k]

This is not "convenient timing", hurr durr, russophobia™. It has been widely reported over the course of a time and not just by American pulications:

Afghan Taliban acknowledge ties with Moscow, Tehran | Anadolu Agency

Why is Russia so interested in Afghanistan all of a sudden? | Asia | DW.COM | 03.01.2017

Afghan Senate: Iran and Russia are supporting Taliban - Al Arabiya English

Dushanbe Probing Claim Taliban Tanks Being Repaired In Tajikistan | Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty

It has also started a while ago: December 23, 2015: Russia is sharing information with the Taliban to fight the Islamic State - The Washington Post

People who are saying payback's a bitch: This is a list of nations engaged in Operation Cyclone:

• USA

This is a list of nations currently engaged in Afghanistan (in German):

•  Albanien
•  Armenien
•  Aserbaidschan
•  Australien
•  Belgien
•  Bosnien und Herzegowina
•  Bulgarien
•  Dänemark
•  Deutschland
•  Estland
•  Finnland
•  Frankreich
•  Georgien
•  Griechenland
•  Island
•  Irland
•  Italien
•  Jordanien
•  Kanada
•  Kroatien
•  Lettland
•  Litauen
•  Luxemburg
•  Mongolei
•  Montenegro
•  Niederlande
•  Neuseeland
•  Norwegen
•  Österreich
•  Polen
•  Portugal
•  Rumänien
•  Schweden
•  Singapur
•  Slowakei
•  Slowenien
•  Spanien
•  Südkorea
•  Mazedonien
•  Tonga
•  Tschechien
•  Türkei
•  Ukraine
•  Ungarn
•  Vereinigte Staaten
•  Vereinigte Arabische Emirate
•  Vereinigtes Königreich

Spot any difference?

 

[AcademicSaucer]

I think we already knew this because Iran wanted to use them against ISIS or something like that was the justification they used. Not that I believe it.