Afghanistan Says Russia Deal Is ‘Military-Technical’, Not Defence Pact
Kabul: Afghanistan’s Defence Minister, Mawlawi Mohammad Yaqoob Mujahid, has said that a recently signed agreement with Russia is “not a defence or security agreement” but rather a military-technical cooperation deal, amid speculation about deeper military ties between the two countries.
Speaking on Saturday, Yaqoob sought to clarify the nature of the agreement reached during his visit to Moscow this week, where he attended an international security forum attended by representatives from nearly 100 countries.
The agreement was signed on the sidelines of the forum held in the Russian capital on Wednesday. The deal has drawn significant attention as Russia remains the only country to have formally recognised the Taliban-led government in Afghanistan.
Following the visit, reports and commentary suggested that Yaqoob may have secured Russian support for advanced military equipment, including the possibility of modern air defence systems. However, Afghan officials have downplayed such claims, insisting that the agreement focuses on technical military cooperation rather than a formal defence partnership.
The Moscow forum marked the first high-level participation by Taliban officials since Russia officially recognised the Afghan government in July 2025, highlighting growing engagement between the two sides.
Neither Moscow nor Kabul has publicly disclosed the full details of the agreement, but officials say it is aimed at expanding cooperation in military training, technology and related technical fields.
