Mullah Muhammad Yaqoob, the Taliban's acting defense minister, signed a military-technical cooperation agreement with Russia on May 27 near Moscow, aiming to repair and maintain Russian-made weapons systems in Afghanistan. This deal, described as pragmatic and interest-based, seeks to boost the Taliban's military capabilities and deter Pakistan amidst heightened cross-border tensions.
Yaqoob warned Islamabad would "soon no longer dare" attack Afghan territory due to this cooperation, which he insisted was not a defense pact but focused on existing equipment like helicopters. Russia, having officially recognized the Taliban, views the agreement as a means to become a security factor in the region as Western influence recedes. Moscow also aims to counter Islamic State Khorasan (ISKP) threats to Central Asia and Russia's internal security, seeing the Taliban as a "relative security buffer." The Taliban, facing economic strain, gain regional legitimacy and economic opportunities, including energy and grain imports, while diversifying external relations. Analysts note the historical irony of the Taliban, which emerged from post-Soviet wreckage, now engaging with Russia.
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