ISLAMABAD: The Tajikistan government Tuesday rejected the statement by head of US forces in Afghanistan that Russia was supporting and even supplying arms to the Taliban from the border of Tajikistan. “The groundless statement made by Gen John Nicholson, the head of the US forces in Afghanistan, in his exclusive interview to the BBC on March 23, 2018, on the alleged deliveries of weapons to the Taliban movement across the border of Tajikistan is deeply regrettable,” a statement issued by Tajikistan embassy in Islamabad quoting Ministry of Foreign Affairs read. “Tajikistan has never recognized the legitimacy of the Taliban movement and being a supporter of measures for early peaceful settlement of the Afghan conflict has never provided its territory to the third countries for implementation of such actions contrary to the fundamental approaches and the principle position of the country on issues of peace and security,” the statement concluded. Published in Daily Times, March 28th 2018.