Russian Intelligence Paid Taliban Fighters Up to $200,000 Per Attack on US Forces, Investigation Finds

Russian military intelligence (GRU) allegedly paid Taliban fighters and other militant groups in Afghanistan to carry out attacks targeting US and coalition forces. According to an investigation by The Insider, in collaboration with Der Spiegel, the scheme reportedly operated between 2016 and 2019, offering payments of up to $200,000 per killed soldier and costing Russia an estimated $30 million.

"For years, GRU paid various terrorist groups in Afghanistan for attacks aimed at US and coalition forces. The Insider not only uncovered evidence of this program's existence but also identified specific GRU officers involved. To transfer money to Taliban fighters and other groups, Russian intelligence operated a network of Afghan couriers disguised as a gemstone trading company. After completing their missions, the couriers were granted Russian documents and refuge in Russia," the report stated.

Funding scheme through couriers

Based on statements from former Afghan officials of the National Directorate of Security (NDS), the funds were transferred through a network of couriers coordinated by an Afghan operative, Rahmatullah Azizi. Azizi reportedly worked under the supervision of GRU operatives and ran a front business dealing in gemstones. He is believed to have distributed funds to Taliban-linked groups for targeting US and coalition forces.

Key operations

The investigation identifies Rahmatullah Azizi as the central figure in the funding scheme. Allegedly recruited by GRU's 29155 unit in 2015, Azizi relocated to Moscow in 2019, just before Afghan authorities uncovered the operation. He reportedly used a Russian passport with a serial number similar to those used by other GRU operatives. His Moscow-based company, ARIGS Ltd, operated in the diamond trade and coordinated with a similar entity run by his family in Kabul.

The report also names Par Khan Gul Zafar, another Afghan operative allegedly working directly under GRU officer Alexey Arkhipov. Zafar reportedly managed courier networks and coordinated trips for operatives between Russia, Afghanistan, and neighboring countries.

High-level coordination

According to the investigation, the operation was overseen by Lieutenant General Ivan Kasyanenko, deputy commander of the GRU's 29155 unit. Kasyanenko, who previously served as a military attaché in Tehran, frequently traveled between Moscow and Kabul from 2014 to 2020. Another GRU officer, Colonel Alexey Arkhipov, acted as the primary liaison with Taliban contacts, as evidenced by intercepted emails and metadata from phone calls.

Impact and response

The alleged payments fueled a series of attacks that resulted in significant casualties among coalition forces. However, official investigations were reportedly obstructed by Afghan government officials and hindered by the US government’s reluctance to acknowledge the existence of such a program.

This investigation builds on earlier reports from The New York Times in 2020, which cited intercepted financial transactions linking the GRU to the Taliban. While the US government at the time faced criticism for its handling of the allegations, the new findings shed further light on the depth of Russian involvement in destabilizing efforts in Afghanistan.

Previously, a bill has been introduced in the Russian State Duma that would allow the radical Islamist group Taliban to be removed from Russia’s list of terrorist organizations.