Criticizes Allegation Of Arms Supply To Panjshir, Ministry Of Foreign Affairs: Russia Does Not Arm Warring Parties In Afghanistan

Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova. (Twitter/@mfa_russia)

JAKARTA - The comments of a United States expert on the alleged supply of Russian weapons to the Afghan National Resistance Front in Panjshir Province are satire, Russian Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Maria Zakharova said in a statement Monday.

"We pay attention to the comments of some American Russophobia experts published on social networks, about the alleged supply of Russian weapons to the Afghan National Resistance Front in Panjshir Province. Russia is indicated as the country that produces these weapons. We firmly reject such innuendo," Zakharova said, as reported by TASS, January 18.

"In anticipation of possible subsequent fake news reports on this issue, we consider it necessary to state the following: Russia does not participate in any way and will not participate in arming the warring parties in Afghanistan," the Russian diplomat stressed.

Zakharova further stressed Moscow believes the supply of weapons to the warring parties in Afghanistan will not contribute to stabilizing the situation in Afghanistan.

"On the contrary, it will exacerbate intra-Afghan contradictions "full of inciting civil war based on ethnic strife. This scenario is fundamentally against the wishes of Russia," the diplomat said.

To note, the Taliban militant group launched a massive offensive to take control of Afghanistan, after the United States declared its intention in the spring of last year to withdraw its troops from the country.

On August 15 last year, the Taliban invaded Kabul without encountering any resistance, while Afghan President Ashraf Ghani resigned and fled the country.

Afghan forces opposed to the rise of the Taliban to power in the country fought in Panjshir, led by Ahmad Massoud, son of renowned guerrilla commander Ahmad Shah Massoud (1953-2001). Former Vice President Amrullah Saleh, who declared himself "interim president", urged the state to support him.

Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid announced on September 6 that the Taliban group had secured full control over Panjshir Province and the war in Afghanistan was over. The Taliban also appointed a new governor of the rebellious province.

Massoud, on the other hand, said the anti-Taliban resistance was continuing. Ali Maysam Nazari, a spokesman for the Front, later clarified that the resistance was turning to guerrilla warfare tactics.