Russia and Afghanistan have signed a military cooperation agreement, a year after the Kremlin removed the Taliban from the list of banned terrorist groups.

Russia and Afghanistan signed a military cooperation agreement on Wednesday, a year after the Kremlin removed the Taliban from the list of banned terrorist groups. Afghan Defense Minister Mohammad Yaqoub stated that this agreement marks an expansion of bilateral relations, emphasizing the importance of interaction with Russia.

The relations between the two countries have a complex history, starting with the Soviet invasion in 1979. Although relations were strained after the withdrawal of Soviet troops, Russia has been accused of supporting the Taliban during the period of post-American invasion instability.

Sergei Shoigu, the Secretary of the Security Council of Russia, called on Western countries to lift the sanctions imposed on the Taliban. In April 2025, Russia removed the Taliban from the list of terrorist groups and became the first country to officially recognize the Taliban government. Recently, the European Commission invited representatives of the Taliban to Brussels, although without offering official recognition.