KABUL – Russia is supporting and supplying arms to the Taliban, Gen JohnNicholson, the head of US forces in Afghanistan, told the *BBClink>* in an interviewlink>.

Nicholson, during the interview published on Friday, said he had seen”destabilising activity by the Russians”, alleging that Russian weaponswere smuggled across the Tajik border to the Taliban. He, however, did notsay in what quantity.

“We see a narrative that’s being used that grossly exaggerates the numberof Isis [Islamic State group] fighters here,” Gen Nicholson was quoted assaying by the *BBC*. “This narrative then is used as a justification forthe Russians to legitimise the actions of Taliban and provide some degreeof support to the Taliban.”

“We’ve had stories written by the Taliban that have appeared in the mediaabout financial support provided by the enemy,” he added.

“We’ve had weapons brought to this headquarters and given to us by Afghanleaders who said, ‘This was given by the Russians to the Taliban’ — we knowthat the Russians are involved.”