Rep. Ruben Gallego: With American Troops at Risk, Congress deserves to know more about Russian Aid to the Taliban
Washington, DC – Today , Congressman Ruben Gallego, a Member of the House Armed Services Committee, wrote to Defense Secretary James Mattis seeking more information about Russian aid to the Taliban in Afghanistan. His letter comes after the commander of US forces in Afghanistan, General John Nicholson, appeared to confirm on Monday that Russia is providing arms and other support to the Taliban.
"At a time when more than 8,000 American troops remain in Afghanistan, Congress deserves to know more about Russian arms transfers to the Taliban," said Rep. Gallego. "As we consider the future course of US involvement in that country after more than 15 years of war and as our military contends with growing Russian antagonism around the world, it is critical that the Members of this body have a clear understanding of Russian support for an adversary that continues to actively target brave American service members."
The full text of the letter is below and can be found online here.
Dear Secretary Mattis:
I write to request a comprehensive briefing on Russian efforts to arm the Taliban in Afghanistan. This issue is of urgent and growing importance at a time of increasingly lethal Taliban attacks on Afghan forces and of mounting Russian hostility toward U.S. interests around the world.
Recent, highly successful Taliban attacks – including the April 21st raid that reportedly killed as many as 140 Afghan security personnel – pose a clear threat to the Afghan National Security Forces, the over 8,000 U.S. service members in Afghanistan, other U.S. Government personnel and contractors, and to the long term stability of the Afghan state. If this threat is augmented by the willful actions of the Russian Government, Congress needs to know.
As you are aware, this issue came to light during your recent trip to Afghanistan. While I am encouraged by your public assessment that any arms shipments to forces arrayed against the Government of Afghanistan would be in violation of international law, I am eager to hear from your Department about the nature of such arms transfers, current efforts to stop them, and how Russia's support for the Taliban fits into a larger Russian policy of antagonism around the globe.
Thank you for attention to this request.
Sincerely,
Ruben Gallego
Member of Congress