Not a full alliance: This is not a mutual defence pact. Russia is not promising to fight for the Taliban. The deal is limited to military-technical matters.
Russia is stretched thin: Russia is fighting a war in Ukraine. It faces heavy economic sanctions. It does not have unlimited money or weapons to give away. Hameed Hakimi, an expert at the Atlantic Council, said: “Russia is too economically stretched to provide free military aid to the Taliban government.”
The Taliban has little money: The Taliban government has almost no foreign funds. Many of its assets are frozen abroad. It cannot buy large amounts of new weapons. So any cooperation will likely be small-scale.
Experts like Ruslan Suleymanov from the New Eurasian Strategies Centre say the agreement is more political than military. “In reality, we’re definitely not going to see a full-blown military alliance,” he told The Insider.
Criticism and Concerns
The agreement has been criticised, especially by women’s rights activists and former Afghan leaders.
Mariam Solaimankhil, a former member of Afghanistan’s parliament, said: “The move legitimises a regime that bans girls from education, enforces public floggings, and shelters UN-sanctioned terrorists.” She added: “The move signals that strategic interests will always outweigh human rights and international law.”
Another former Afghan MP, Fawzia Koofi, warned: “Recognising the Taliban will not bring peace – it will legitimise impunity” and could endanger the people of Afghanistan and global security.
Many senior Taliban leaders remain under UN sanctions for their past actions.
A Brief History of Afghanistan’s Recent Troubles
Afghanistan has suffered war for over 40 years. The Taliban returned to power in August 2021, after the United States and its allies withdrew their troops. Since then, the country has faced a frozen banking system, a collapsed economy, and humanitarian crises. The Taliban has also restricted women’s rights severely. Girls above sixth grade cannot go to school. Women cannot work in most jobs. International aid has been reduced. Russia’s engagement does not change these internal problems.
What Happens Next?
The full text of the agreement remains secret. It may take months or years to see what actually changes on the ground. More meetings between Russian and Taliban officials are likely. Russia may also push other countries, like China and Central Asian states, to deepen their ties with the Taliban. For now, the agreement is a powerful symbol. It shows that the Taliban is not completely alone in the world. And it shows that Russia is willing to work with almost anyone to protect its own interests.
Exam-Focused Points
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Date of signing: 27 May 2026.
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Event: International Security Forum in the Moscow region (26-29 May 2026).
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Signatories: Sergei Shoigu (Secretary, Security Council of Russia) and Mohammad Yaqoob (Acting Defence Minister of Taliban-led Afghanistan).
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Type of agreement: Military-technical cooperation.
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Contents: Not made public.
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Preceding events: April 2025 – Russia removed Taliban from terrorist list; July