Russia and Taliban sign military‑technical cooperation pact

Russia and Afghanistan’s Taliban-led government have signed a military-technical cooperation agreement, marking a significant step in deepening ties between the two sides. The deal was signed on May 27 by Sergei Shoigu, secretary of Russia’s Security Council, and the Taliban’s acting defense minister, Mohammad Yaqub Mujahid, on the sidelines of an International Security Forum outside Moscow.

The specific contents of the agreement have not been publicly disclosed, making it difficult to assess its scope. Military-technical cooperation can cover a wide range of activities, including arms sales, training, maintenance, and logistics support. Analysts suggest that Russia’s capacity for major arms deliveries may be constrained by its ongoing war in Ukraine and Western sanctions, making cooperation focused on maintenance, coordination, or training more likely. One Russian analyst characterized the deal as more of a political signal than a sign of imminent, substantive military support.

The agreement builds upon a series of diplomatic moves. Russia formally recognized the Taliban as Afghanistan’s legitimate government in July 2025, becoming the first and only country to do so. Earlier...