Top Russian General: There Are 50,000 Taliban And Islamic Fighters In Afghanistan

TASS: Number of militants in Afghanistan up to 50,000 people — Russian General Staff

The core is the Islamic Movement Taliban with more than 40,000 militants, Russian General Staff head Army General Valery Gerasimov says

MOSCOW, October 8. /TASS/. The number of militants in Afghanistan stands at up to 50,000 people, united into more than 4,000 units and groups, Russian General Staff head Army General Valery Gerasimov said on Thursday.

"There are currently up to 50,000 militants in Afghanistan united into more than 4,000 units and groups of different kinds. The core is the Islamic Movement Taliban with more than 40,000 militants," Gerasimov said at the opening of the international conference on Afghanistan.

WNU Editor: The U.S., NATO, and the Afghan government rarely give out stats on the strength of the Taliban. But 50,000 fighters in 4,000 units and groups is a disturbing number .... and probably accurate. I can also assume that support for the Taliban among the general population is also high.