The Afghan Taliban government’s Minister of Refugees and Repatriation Khalil Rahman Haqqani said Iran was sending former Afghan soldiers to fight in Ukraine. Haqqani’s statement corroborates earlier media reports that said Iran has an ongoing policy of using Afghans to fight as part of pro-Iranian militias, particularly in the Fatemiyoun Brigades.[1]
Khalil Rahman Haqqani issued a statement after visiting Parwan
Afghan news website ToloNews, quoting Khalil Rahman Haqqani, said former Afghan soldiers were sent to fight not only the war in Ukraine, but also in Syria and Iraq.[2]
“I shared this issue with them (Iranian authorities). Afghans have previously been used in combat in Iraq and Syria, and may have occurred in the war in Ukraine as well,” he said.
Afghan military analysts said Iran has a policy of using former Afghan soldiers as leverage, according to the report. “they [Afghans] Not only in Iraq and Syria, but also in the Ukrainian war, I was forced to contact other groups to cover my family’s expenses.
Military affairs expert Sadiq Shinwari also noted that Iran is using migrant Afghans who go to Iran for work to fight in various countries. Afghan migrants should not be used as a military force,” said Sadiq Shinwari.
The Iranian embassy in Kabul has reportedly denied allegations that Iran is sending former Afghan soldiers to fight in the war in Ukraine.
[2] ToloNews.com (Afghanistan), December 2, 2022.
