A CNN report claiming that Russia is arming the Taliban terror group in Afghanistan is part of an American disinformation campaign in which the broadcaster is being used as a propaganda tool, said Maria Zakharova, the Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman.
“We stated repeatedly that a disinformation campaign has been launched in the US media over alleged arming of Taliban by Russia and so on,” Zakharova told Govorit Moskva radio station.
“CNN is a reliable propaganda tool in this game by the relevant US agencies,” she added.
Earlier Tuesday, CNN released videos of Taliban factions in various parts of Afghanistan claiming to be in possession of weapons that they said originated from Russian government sources.
A Taliban group operating near the town of Herat said they got hold of Russian guns after defeating a rival Taliban unit, while another militant brigade claimed that it received weapons supplied by “the Russians” via Tajikistan, according to the report.
CNN acknowledged that “the videos don't provide incontrovertible proof” that Moscow has been dealing with the Taliban.
While the arms experts CNN cited in its report said “there is nothing here [in the footage] tying guns to the Russian state,” as the weapons shown “are not new or rare” and couldn’t not be identified, as they had their markings “missing or scratched off,” it was enough for the channel to suggest that “one new devastating alliance” risks regional stability.
Moreover, the experts said that some of the weapons shown were made in China and could be procured online.
In the article accompanying the so-called “exclusive images,” CNN appears to be not so sure in its reporting, however. It ran under the headline: “Video suggests Russian government may be arming Taliban.”
Earlier in July, the Taliban released a propaganda video showcasing the group’s bases and training programs, as well as militants carrying American weapons, the Military Times reported.
The video featured M4 and M16 rifles, which the Taliban could have seized from Afghan government forces.
READ MORE: Taliban says foreign troops must go before peace talks as US plans 4,000-strong surge
However, there is no simple explanation for the fact that the jihadists have been filmed marching with FN SCAR 7.62mm rifles, which are only used by American special forces and aren’t on the list of weaponry officially provided to Kabul by Washington.