Russia to provide air defense systems to Afghanistan

The Taliban government in Afghanistan has received a promise from Russia to provide military assistance, including modern air defense equipment. A reliable source has confirmed this information to the BBC.

The Taliban government's Defense Minister, Mohammad Yaqub Mujahid, has played a successful role in convincing Russia to provide modern air defense equipment.

The source said that Moscow had already discussed the provision of defense equipment with the Taliban and steps have been taken to implement the decision as promised by Russia during the defense minister's visit.

It is not yet clear whether the deal includes only air defense equipment or attack equipment such as drones.

However, sources told the BBC that the two sides have signed an agreement that includes providing air defense equipment as well as ground military equipment and necessary training to the Taliban government's military forces.

The document was reportedly signed between Russia and the Taliban government in the capital, Moscow.

The meeting was attended by Russian National Security Adviser Sergei Shoigu and Taliban Defence Minister Mullah Mohammad Yaqub Mujahid.

Since the Taliban came to power in Afghanistan, Russia has maintained good relations with the Taliban government, and various Afghan delegations have visited the country regularly.

A source in the Defence Ministry in Kabul said the agreement formalised Russia's understanding with the Taliban government in the defence sector.

Afghan Defence Minister Mohammad Yaqub Mujahid travelled to Moscow on Tuesday to attend an international security conference.

A Taliban government source told the BBC at the time that Mr Mujahid's visit to Russia had been planned in advance and a delegation had already travelled to Moscow to prepare for the visit.

Mullah Mohammad Yaqub Mujahid said in a meeting with Russian National Security Council Adviser Sergei Shoigu that Russia is an important country in the region and the world. Communication and relations with the Russian Federation are of particular importance to us. We hope that this relationship will become broader, stronger and more comprehensive.

Russia is one of the countries that did not close its embassy in Kabul after the US withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021 and the Taliban’s return to power.

In 2022, Russia also signed its first international economic agreement with the Taliban government, under which it supplies oil, gas and wheat to Afghanistan.

Russia and Central Asian countries have repeatedly expressed concern about the presence of militant groups in Afghanistan, but Mr. Mujahid pointed to their efforts to combat militant groups.

“We have achieved significant success in suppressing insurgent networks,” he said.

Taliban government officials have repeatedly assured that they will not allow anyone to act against any other country on Afghan soil.

However, it seems that even this assurance has not completely allayed their (neighboring countries’) long-standing concerns.

Late last year, Russian President Vladimir Putin called maintaining relations with the Taliban government an important step towards changing the situation in Afghanistan.

He said that Afghanistan is completely under the control of the Taliban and that no country can exert real influence on Afghan affairs without maintaining relations with the current leadership in Kabul.

Russian National Security Advisor Sergei Shoigu also said a few days ago that his country is in the process of establishing a full-fledged partnership with the Taliban government and that he is encouraging other countries in the region to increase cooperation with Kabul.

Afghanistan had recently been involved in a conflict with Pakistan. At that time, the issue of Afghanistan's weakness in the air defense sector came to the fore.

Since then, the Taliban government is believed to have become more interested in modern military equipment, including air defense.

This is the first time that the Taliban government's Defense Minister Mohammad Yakub has signed a military and technical cooperation agreement with a regional country.

Source: BBC