The Taliban government has signed a major agreement with the Russian Federation covering air defense systems, ground military equipment, and military training.
A reliable source told the BBC that Taliban Defense Minister Mullah Mohammad Yaqoob Mujahid succeeded in convincing Russia to provide the Taliban administration with modern air defense equipment.
The source added that negotiations between the two sides had been ongoing for some time, and during Mujahid’s recent visit to Moscow, Russia took practical steps toward implementing its commitments.
It is still unclear whether the agreement includes only air defense systems or also offensive military equipment such as drones. However, sources say the deal covers ground military hardware in addition to air defense equipment, as well as military and technical training for Taliban forces.
The agreement was signed in the Russian capital, Moscow, in the presence of Russian Security Council Secretary Sergei Shoigu and Taliban Defense Minister Mullah Mohammad Yaqoob Mujahid.
The deal comes at a time when Pakistani airstrikes on Afghan territory have increased in recent months. The Taliban attempted to prevent such attacks, but their efforts were largely unsuccessful due to the lack of advanced air defense capabilities.
Analysts believe that if Russia supplies the Taliban with modern air defense systems, it could significantly strengthen Afghanistan’s air defense capacity and help prevent similar aerial attacks in the future.
