The Kabul Tribune (KT) — Russia has proposed repairing Soviet-era military equipment held by the Taliban as an initial step toward a broader defense cooperation agreement, The Moscow Times reported.
Zamir Kabulov, Russia’s presidential envoy for Afghanistan,
announced the proposal following the signing of a military-technical
partnership, which could eventually pave the way for the supply of new weapons
systems.
The Taliban’s Ministry of Defense is believed to possess a
large inventory of legacy military hardware, including T-55 and T-62 tanks,
BMP-1 and BMP-2 infantry fighting vehicles, and Mi-17 and Mi-24 helicopters.
According to The Military Balance, the arsenal also includes An-26 and An-32
transport aircraft, as well as artillery systems such as D-30 howitzers, BM-21
Grad multiple rocket launchers, and 2B14 Podnos mortars, in addition to a
significant stockpile of small arms.
The Taliban took control of Afghanistan in August 2021
following the withdrawal of U.S. and NATO forces. In mid-2025, Russia became
the first country to formally recognize the Taliban government, removing the
group from its list of banned organizations and accepting its ambassador in
Moscow.
Since returning to power, the Taliban have conducted
military operations against internal rivals, including ISIS, and have engaged
in cross-border hostilities with neighboring Iran and Pakistan. By February
2026, Pakistan declared an “open war” against the Taliban, citing the group’s
alleged support for militants involved in cross-border attacks.
Mohammad Omar Nessar, a researcher at the Russian Academy of
Sciences, described the Taliban’s military as a collection of loosely
coordinated factions working to establish centralized command. Analysts say
Kabul is prioritizing the repair of its helicopter fleet to strengthen airspace
monitoring amid rising regional tensions.
Yuriy Lyamin, a senior researcher at the Center for Analysis
of Strategies and Technologies, said the Taliban are particularly interested in
acquiring spare parts, ammunition, military gear, low-cost drones, and air
defense systems.
The agreement was finalized on May 27 during an
international security forum in the Moscow region. While such deals typically
involve technology exchange and joint development, analysts remain cautious
about the scope of cooperation.
Eastern studies expert Ruslan Suleymanov described the
agreement as largely “symbolic,” adding that a full-scale military alliance
similar to Russia’s partnership with North Korea is unlikely. However, he noted
that Moscow could deploy military specialists to Afghanistan or conduct limited
training activities.
Recent imagery suggests that Russia is reactivating Cold
War-era T-55AM tanks, with modifications including improvised armor and
overhead protective structures. Despite modernization efforts in the 1980s,
analysts say the platform remains outdated and lacks the survivability and
advanced sensor capabilities required for modern warfare.
