Afghanistan and Russia Sign Military-Technical Agreement Amid Security Conference

Mawlawi Mohammad Yaqub Mujahid, the Taliban-appointed Minister of Defense, announced the signing of a military-technical agreement between Afghanistan and the Russian Federation with Sergey Shoigu, Secretary of Russia’s Security Council. The agreement was signed on the sidelines of the Russia International Security Conference and, according to Mujahid, signifies the importance of relations between the two sides.

During the conference, he stated that Afghanistan and Russia share deep historical ties, and interaction with Moscow holds “special value” for the Taliban administration. Mujahid noted that expanding cooperation could open new avenues in technical and military fields.

The Taliban defense minister also confirmed that Afghanistan faces economic and humanitarian challenges, with certain sanctions contributing to the persistence of these problems. Since the Taliban’s return to power, international sanctions and the lack of formal recognition have cast a shadow over the country’s economic situation, affecting the lives of residents in several regions.

Experts have previously stated that any expansion of military and security relations, alongside efforts to alleviate economic pressures, requires a responsible and accountable approach towards the international community—an issue on which the Taliban administration has so far faced serious criticism.