Russia and Taliban Sign Secret Military Deal: What We Know

Overview

Russia and Afghanistan’s Taliban government signed a military-technical cooperation deal on 27 May 2026. The agreement was signed by Sergei Shoigu and Mohammad Yaqoob at a security forum near Moscow. Details are not public. This is another step in Russia’s growing relationship with the Taliban.

A Quiet but Important Deal

On 27 May 2026, Russia and the Taliban-led government of Afghanistan signed a military-technical cooperation agreement. The signing happened during the International Security Forum in the Moscow region. Two men signed the document. They were Sergei Shoigu, Secretary of Russia’s Security Council, and Mohammad Yaqoob, the Acting Defence Minister of Afghanistan’s Taliban government. The deal is not fully public. But it marks a big shift in relations between Moscow and Kabul’s rulers.

What is Military-Technical Cooperation?

Military-technical cooperation is a formal term. It means one country helps another country with defence matters. This can include selling weapons, sharing military technology, training soldiers, repairing equipment, and providing logistics support. Sometimes it also includes joint exercises or intelligence sharing. The exact contents of the Russia-Afghanistan agreement have not been released. Neither side has told the public what is inside the document. So experts are guessing. Some think it is mostly symbolic. Others believe it may include practical help like maintenance of old Russian-made equipment still used by Afghan forces.

Who Are the Signatories?

Sergei Shoigu  is a very powerful man in Russia. He was Russia’s Defence Minister for many years. In May 2024, President Putin moved him to a new role. He became Secretary of the Security Council of the Russian Federation. This council advises the President on national security matters. Shoigu remains close to Putin.

Mohammad Yaqoob  is the son of Mullah Omar, the founder of the Taliban. He is the Acting Defence Minister of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (the Taliban’s name for their government). He is also the Taliban’s chief of military affairs. He is seen as a powerful figure within the Taliban leadership.

How Did Russia and the Taliban Get Here?

The relationship between Russia and the Taliban has changed a lot in recent years.

Before 2021:  The Taliban was fighting against foreign forces in Afghanistan. Russia had listed the Taliban as a terrorist organisation since 2003. There was no official contact.

After August 2021:  The Taliban took back control of Afghanistan. Foreign forces left. Russia did not immediately recognise the Taliban government. But it kept diplomatic channels open.

April 2025:  Russia’s Supreme Court removed the Taliban from its list of banned terrorist organisations. This was a big step. It meant Russians could now legally meet and work with Taliban officials.

July 2025:  Russia became the first country in the world to formally recognise the Taliban-led government. Russia accepted the credentials of the Taliban’s ambassador to Moscow. This was a formal act of recognition.

May 2026:  The military-technical cooperation agreement was signed.

So the agreement is not sudden. It is the latest step in a steady process of normalisation.

What Happened at the Signing Event?

The signing took place at the first International