After the 2001 invasion of Afghanistan, Bout appeared in Moscow and stated that his aircraft made regular flights to the country, but continued to deny any contact with al-Qaeda or the Taliban—instead supplying the rebel Northern Alliance. He may have sold planes to the Taliban, however. Soon after the beginning of the 2001–2014 war in Afghanistan, al-Qaeda is said to have moved gold and cash out of the country, with reports stating that some of the planes used to do this were linked to Bout. In July 2003, "The New York Times" interviewed Bout, who stated that "I woke up after Sept. 11 and found I was second only to Osama."