[Yo-Yo]

The Afghans are probably the old "Northern Alliance" warlords that Russia backed when the Taliban and al-Qaeda ruled Afghanistan.

I thought the Northern Alliance were the ones that the U.S. backed during Soviet Russia's occupation of Afghanistan.

[Trumpinator]

No, the Northern Alliance was a mix of old pro Soviet Afghans, non Pushtan ethics, a Shia Persian faction and some anti-Taliban Pushtans that fought the Soviets. It was funded by Iran, Russia, China and India.

After 9/11 the USA co-opted the Northern Alliance.