US senator wants reports on Russian bounties declassified

KABUL (Pajhwok): A vocal American lawmaker has urged the Biden administration to declassify intelligence on alleged Russian bounties on US troops fighting in Afghanistan.

In June last year, a major US newspaper reported that Russian military intelligence had offered Taliban bounties on US and coalition forces in Afghanistan.

On Monday, Politico quoted Sen. Tammy Duckworth as asking the Biden government to reveal details about the reported bounties — a claim dismissed by former president Donald Trump.

“While any intelligence assessment on this matter is understandably sensitive, the American public, and Gold Star Families in particular, have a pressing need to know if there is any truth to these claims,” Duckworth argued.

In a letter to National Intelligence Director Avril Haines, she wrote:  “I believe such a finding may be presented while protecting classified information.”

While hitting out at the Trump team for not answering even basic questions about the allegations, she hailed the sitting government for ordering a review of all alleged activity by Russia.

Duckworth also called for the Office of the National Intelligence director to release an unclassified report “that will provide urgently needed transparency on this grave matter.”

PAN Monitor/mud

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