Russia, the Taliban signed a military agreement that strengthens Moscow's ties to Central Asia: reports

Russia and the Taliban government in Afghanistan have signed a military cooperation agreement, strengthening an alliance that strengthens Moscow's influence in Central Asia, according to reports.

The agreement, concluded on Wednesday at the international security forum in Russia, followed a meeting between the Secretary of the Russian Security Council Sergei Shoigu and the Afghan Minister of Defense Mohammad Yaqoob.

The Taliban Ministry of Defense announced on X that Yaqoob had gone to Russia to attend a conference.

Yaqoob is a Taliban military commander and the son of Taliban founder Mullah Mohammad Omar.

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Omar formed a close relationship with Osama bin Laden and provided a safe haven where al Qaeda planned the 9/11 terrorist attacks.

As of Thursday, neither Russia nor the Afghan side had shared any other details of the new military deal.

“Afghanistan and Russia have a long and historical relationship. With this, we want to move forward. We have increased bilateral relations,” Yaqoob said at the meeting.

The agreement follows statements by a Russian security official who noted that Moscow has established “full cooperation” with Afghanistan's ruling Taliban group and is encouraging other countries in the region to increase cooperation with Kabul, Reuters reported.

The Taliban regained power in August 2021, after toppling the US-backed Afghan government led by President Ashraf Ghani.

In 2021, Russian President Vladimir Putin acknowledged the possibility of withdrawing Russia's classification of the Taliban as a terrorist organization.

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In 2021, Russian President Vladimir Putin acknowledged the possibility of withdrawing Russia's classification of the Taliban as a terrorist organization. (Photo by Alexander Kazakov/Sputnik/Kremlin Pool/AP, File)

In 2024, he called the Taliban “allies in the fight against terrorism” and Russia became the first country to officially recognize the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan.

“After several years of hesitation, Russia became the first country in the world to officially recognize the Taliban government in Afghanistan,” Nikita Smagin, an expert on Iranian foreign and domestic policies, Islamism and Russian policy in the Middle East, said in a report by the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.

“It's a symbolic gesture rather than something driven by trade or economic considerations,” Smagin said, explaining that when Taliban forces entered the Afghan capital in August 2021, “Russia was already considered worthy of special treatment.”

“Its diplomatic mission was immediately given security, and Russian Ambassador Dmitry Zhirnov became the first foreign diplomat to meet with the new rulers of Afghanistan,” he explained.

On Wednesday, Shoigu also called on the West to release sanctioned Afghan assets.

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Russia has become the first country in the world to officially recognize the Taliban government in Afghanistan. (Photo by Elke Scholiers / Getty Images)

“We are convinced that the Western countries should release the blocked Afghan assets, fully realize their responsibility for their 20-year presence in Afghanistan, and bear the responsibility of rebuilding the country after the conflicts,” Shoigu said, according to reports.

“Moscow needs to take steps that will restore its image as an influential power that takes action, and the recognition of the Taliban regime serves that purpose,” Smagin said.

“The position of the first country to establish formal relations with the Taliban government should ensure that Russia has a leading role in the discussions affecting the security of the region.”

The recognition of the Taliban, he said, is Russia's attempt “to show itself as a leading world power that is not afraid to break established norms and set examples for other countries.”

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Moscow continues to emphasize the need for direct cooperation with Kabul as it faces serious, ongoing security threats from various anti-Islamic groups operating across Central Asia and the Middle East, Reuters said.

Shoigu also said that Moscow is building a “pragmatic dialogue” with the Taliban that includes security, trade, culture and humanitarian aid, the May 14 report said.