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Russia Gives Taliban's Rivals its Support
Saturday, September 22, 2001

RUSSIA -- AFP
Russian Defence Minister Sergei Ivanov underlined his country's support on Saturday for Afghanistan's Northern Alliance, which is locked in conflict with the ruling Taliban regime in Kabul.

"It is no secret to anyone that Russia, like certain other states, has for several years been providing moral support, and help of another nature, to the Northern Alliance, which has offered real resistance, and continues to do so, to the Taliban regime," he told public broadcaster RTR.

Ivanov made his comments following a meeting ordered on Saturday by President Vladimir Putin of senior ministers responsible for defence and emergency situations, at the Black Sea resort of Sochi.

He revealed that 7,000 troops from Russia's 201st division based in Tajikistan had been placed on alert a week ago along the frontier with Afghanistan.

Around 11,000 Russian guards are also stationed along the 1,200-kilometre frontier.

Ivanov also confirmed that senior Russian general Anatoly Kvachin had met General Fahim in the capital of Tajikistan, Dushanbe, following Fahim's replacement of Ahmed Shah Masood as military leader of the Northern Alliance.
(More: iAfrica.com News Source)

Is it just me, or does it seem this Holy War-thing might be getting choreographed all wrong by the Taliban...

Dan