European and Ukrainian media outlets have expressed concern following the signing of a military-technical cooperation agreement between the Taliban and Russia in Moscow.
Sergei Shoigu, secretary of Russia’s Security Council, and Taliban Defense Minister Mohammad Yaqoob Mujahid signed the security agreement on Wednesday during the International Security Forum near Moscow.
The contents of the agreement have not been officially released, fueling widespread speculation in Europe.
In an analysis, the British newspaper The Independent raised questions about whether Taliban fighters could eventually appear on the frontlines of the war in Ukraine.
The report stated that the secrecy surrounding the agreement has created concerns that Russia may seek to use Taliban fighters to support its military campaign in Ukraine.
The Ukrainian newspaper Kyiv Post also reported that Moscow has gradually expanded relations with the Taliban over recent years.
Romanian outlet Mediafax wrote that concerns have intensified following Russia’s military cooperation with North Korea, which previously sent thousands of soldiers to support Russian operations in Ukraine.
Reports also referenced Western accusations against Iran regarding the supply of drones and military equipment to Russia.
At the same time, analysts note that the Taliban do not possess advanced weapons suitable for export to Russia, and many Taliban fighters lack the conventional military training associated with regular armies.
However, reports indicate Russia has previously recruited foreign nationals for the war in Ukraine.
According to reports, dozens of young Indian citizens were transferred to Russia with promises of employment before later being sent to front-line positions.
Indian authorities have confirmed that some Indian citizens joined Russian military ranks and that several were killed.
Ukraine’s military intelligence agency claimed last month that Russia plans to recruit between 18,000 and 20,000 foreign citizens in 2026 for the war against Ukraine.
Some analysts believe Taliban-Russia cooperation is more likely to focus on regional security, counter-narcotics operations, intelligence sharing, and military training.
Russia has repeatedly expressed concern in recent years about extremist groups, drug trafficking, and instability in Afghanistan.
Meanwhile, the Taliban are seeking to expand military and security cooperation with Moscow and gain access to Russian military support and training.
