Iran Supplying Taliban with Weapons

"One high-ranking Afghan government official said: "We are absolutely convinced that the Iranian intelligence service is providing support to the Taliban.""

An interview with a taliban commander reveals that Iran is providing the taliban with weapons. This wasn't the first indication that Iran is supporting another one of our enemies. Back in 2007 NATO had found Iranian made explosive formed projectiles, the same IEDs used in Iraq, in several taliban weapons caches.

A couple of Iranian convoys, carrying various arms such as C4, heavey arms and advanced IEDs, were intercepted by NATO forces back in April and May of 2007. The convoys originated in Iran and the arms they were carrying were similar to the arms found used by Shia groups in Iraq.

Thanks to GM for all the links. LiveLeak

"We sometimes seize arms and ammunition," said a Taleban commander in south-eastern Afghanistan.

"We're using whatever weapons are left over from Russian times and we buy from different sources - Pakistan, Iran, Russia - wherever we can get them."

He said their favourite weapons were Iranian:

"There's a kind of mine called the Dragon. Iran is sending it and we have got it. It's directional and very powerful."

The Dragon appears to be a local name for what is internationally called an Explosively Formed Penetrator.

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Former mujahedeen fighter Shahir - which is not his real name - said Iranian weapons commanded a premium price:

"The beauty of the Iranian-made AK47, for example, is that it can also fire grenades. It costs $200-$300 dollars more than a Kalashnikov made elsewhere."

Shahir said there were two routes for Iranian weapons to reach the Taleban.

"There are people inside the state in Iran who donate weapons. There are also Iranian businessmen who sell them."

Britain and America have also alleged that elements in the Iranian state are helping to fund the Taleban, but it is rare to get confirmation from the Taleban side.