October 26, 2022
2 mins read

Russia deploys US-trained Afghan commandos in Ukraine

It is believed the shadowy Wagner Group is behind the recruitment drive, exploiting the jobless commandos….reports Asian Lite News

Afghan commandos who had been trained by Allied forces to fight the Taliban are now being recruited by Russia to fight in Ukraine, a media report said.

Up to 30,000 members of the elite National Army Commando Corps were abandoned by the West when the country fell to the Taliban in August last year, Daily Mail reported.

Now, the US-trained light infantry force that fought side by side with Allied troops for nearly 20 years could be joining Vladimir Putin’s savage war effort, the report said.

It is believed the shadowy Wagner Group is behind the recruitment drive, exploiting the jobless commandos.

An ex-official told Foreign Policy: “I am telling you [the recruiters] are Wagner Group. They are gathering people from all over. [The Afghan commandos] would be better used by Western allies to fight alongside Ukrainians. They don’t want to fight for the Russians; the Russians are the enemy. But what else are they going to do?”

Many say they have been contacted via WhatsApp and Signal with offers to join the Russian ‘foreign legion’ in Ukraine.

Senior military and security officials in Afghanistan fear as many as 10,000 soldiers could be tempted to join, because they have “nothing to lose”, Daily Mail reported.

Only a few hundred senior officers were evacuated by the US in the dramatic withdrawal from Kabul in August 2021.

Many Afghan soldiers fled to the neighbouring countries while others went into hiding fearing reprisals from the Taliban for their loyalty to the collapsed government and the West.

The commandos were honed by the US Navy Seals and the British SAS, with a staggering 80 billion pound spent on their training by the US.

An ex-security official said their call-up to Ukraine would be a “game-changer” in Putin’s faltering war.

Last year, Rep. Michael McCaul had warned abandoning the commandos could prove to be a costly mistake by the US as they could be recruited for adversary armies.

One Afghan ex-commando captain who is now in hiding said he helped his comrades connect with recruiters in Iran.

They were flown to Tehran and then on to Russia where their phones are switched off and they carry out their mission ‘secretly’, he said, Daily Mail reported.

ALSO READ: Taliban blocks entry of foreign journalist to Afghanistan

Previous Story

‘Kohli should retire from T20Is’

Next Story

SPECIAL – Sunak Is No Obama – By Mihir Bose

Latest from -Top News

Modi lands in Tianjin, set to meet Xi and Putin

Modi’s China trip marks a crucial diplomatic moment as he engages Xi and Putin at the SCO Summit, balancing India’s strategic priorities with regional cooperation. Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Tianjin

Stalin begins UK, Germany trip to woo investors

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin begins week-long tour of Germany and the UK to attract investments, strengthen diaspora ties, and push the state’s trillion-dollar vision. Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin

Court smacks down Trump’s trade tariffs

A U.S. appeals court strikes down Trump’s reciprocal tariffs, ruling he exceeded his powers, but the President vows to fight on at the Supreme Court. A U.S. federal appeals court has struck

India, Africa eye doubling of trade by 2030

India and Africa pledge to double trade by 2030, focusing on cars, energy, digital finance, healthcare and value-added growth to empower youth and economies. India and Africa are set to deepen economic
Go toTop

Don't Miss

India, US call for concerted action against LeT, JeM

The United States has appreciated the leadership of India in

Afghanistan’s central bank steps in to stabilise local currency

The afghani has been tumbling against foreign currencies, especially the