Members of the Afghan National Army Command confirm contacts with offers to join the Russian armed forces. A former Afghan commando officer told Foreign Policy that Russia was behind Wagner’s mercenary recruitment.
“The selectors are the Wagner group. They gather people from all over. The only agency that recruits foreign troops [para a Rússia] This is the Wagner group, not your army. This is not an assumption, this is a known fact,” said the former commando, noting that those contacted may even fight on the Ukrainian side. “They will be better used by Western allies to fight alongside the Ukrainians. They don’t want to fight for the Russians; the Russians are the enemy. But what else are they going to do?”
It should be noted that the recruitment of these Afghan commandos may have a justification. They were trained by US special forces for several years before the US withdrawal from Afghanistan in August 2021. Some experts interviewed by Foreign Policy even say that if the recruitment is successful, the commandos could “make the difference” Russia needs. Ukrainian battlefield.
The US has reportedly spent around €90 billion building up the Afghan National Defense and Security Forces, and while the troops have proven ineffective against the Taliban, US Navy SEALs and British-trained commandos from the Special Air Service have always been highly regarded.
Between 20,000 and 30,000 Afghan commandos have been out of work since the Taliban came to power in Afghanistan, according to recent reports, and some military personnel are not surprised by the high recruitment rate.
“They have no country, no job, no future, nothing to lose. They are waiting for wage work, in Pakistan or Iran, three or four dollars a day or ten in Turkey. If Wagner or any other intelligence comes and offers 1000 dollars, they will not refuse. Who Even when they come to work, they join the whole old unit because they are like brothers,” admits an ex-serviceman.
The Foreign policy reveals Although he has access to some recruitment messages, they are all the same. “Who wants to go to Russia with good treatment and good resources: please send me your name, father’s name and your military rank.” Recipients are invited to help recruit other members of their divisions. Afghan TV reported that Russian citizenship was among the recruiting privileges.
“Hardcore explorer. Extreme communicator. Professional writer. General music practitioner. Prone to fits of apathy.”