As Pak turns US stooge, Afghan Taliban lean on Russia; history comes full circle

Afghanistan’s Taliban government signed a defense-related agreement with Russia on May 27, centered on maintaining and restoring Soviet- and Russian-made military hardware. The deal, framed as technical cooperation rather than a security pact, was signed by Afghanistan’s Defense Minister Mawlawi Mohammad Yaqoob Mujahid and Sergei Shoigu, Russia’s Security Council Secretary. The agreement includes efforts to repair equipment like Mi-17 helicopters, which were previously used by the US- and NATO-backed Afghan Air Force. The move follows heightened tensions between Afghanistan and Pakistan, particularly after Islamabad’s February military offensive targeting Afghan cities. The US backed Pakistan’s actions, calling them a legitimate defense measure. In response, the Taliban has sought closer ties with Russia, which became the first country to officially recognize the Taliban government in 2021. Much of the Taliban’s military arsenal consists of Soviet- and Russian-origin equipment acquired during the Soviet-Afghan War, the subsequent civil war, and the 2021 Taliban takeover. Mujahid emphasized Afghanistan’s prolonged conflicts, including a 20-year US occupation, which he said left the country economically and humanitarily devastated. Russia’s Shoigu expressed support for Afghanistan’s stability and efforts to combat terrorism and drug trafficking. Analysts suggest the agreement serves regional stability, though both sides insist it is not a formal security alliance. The deal underscores Russia’s expanding influence in Afghanistan as US-Pakistan relations strengthen, reversing historical alliances in the region.