Russia, Iran, India accused of arming Masood forces
 
ISLAMABAD (SANA): Taliban have one again accused Russia of providing military assistance to the Afghan opposition Northern Alliance.Senior spokesman for the Taliban, Abdul Hai Mutmaen said that they do have evidences, which show that new Russian and Iranian arms have reached the opponents.

"I would say with great regret that Russian, Iranian and Indian military and financial assistance to our opponents is constantly continuing.

We had in the past also obtained evidences and presented them as well.

However, when we foiled a major offensive of the opponents at Khawaja Ghar area in Takhar province the other day and the warmongers fled toward Oxus River, they left behind four sophisticated Russian armoured tanks besides other light and heavy weapons.

The documents we have got show that these four tanks are among the 25 tanks brought in along with other arms and ammunition from Russia to Badakhshan recently.

We would definitely show these tanks and other weapons to foreign journalists." Mutmaen told VOA.

Mutmaen said that besides tanks, the opponents have procured helicopters from Russia.

He said that not only the Russian rather Iranian interference has also increased in Afghanistan. He said that although such efforts are in full swing yet they would not benefit from it. "Iran is also making interference.

The agencies reports say that former Governor of Herat province Ismail Khan is in Afghanistan. He might be inside Afghanistan as a result of some foreign pressures but so far as his forces and military might is concerned, such statements are being given by the opposition spokesman is a bid to boost the morale of their defeated warmongers." He said that earlier too, some defeated and rejected elements were hiding in the mountains.

However, Ismail Khan is not capable to create any problem for the Taliban as strict security prevails in the area.

The opponents have been unleashing propaganda for days.

They have been talking about even of fighting and advance in eastern provinces of Afghanistan and some newspapers have given wide coverage to these reports.

In fact, the opponents are not existent in eastern provinces and there is no resistance at all there, he said.

The Taliban spokesman said that besides Russia and Iran, some other countries are trying to support commander Masood against the Taliban.