Russia and the Afghan Taliban have signed an agreement to repair Soviet-era and Russian-made weapons, a seemingly small move in a larger geopolitical game involving the US, Pakistan, and Moscow's efforts to curb Western influence.

Acting Taliban Defense Minister Mullah Mohammad Yaqoob, upon returning to Kabul last week, delivered a warning to Pakistan, saying Islamabad would "soon no longer dare" to attack Afghan territory due to the military-technical cooperation agreement signed in Moscow.

Yaqoob also said implementation of the deal would begin shortly, while downplaying international concerns by insisting it is not a defense pact but focuses on repairing Russian-made systems already in Afghanistan's arsenal, including helicopters and other aircraft.

Russia's special envoy for Afghanistan, Zamir Kabulov, said the agreement focuses on repairing Russian-made equipment and could pave the way for future defense contracts, with the main priority being restoring existing systems.

Analysts say Russia's key interests in Afghanistan remain security-related, including limiting narcotics flows through Central Asia. Moscow also opposes any deployment of US or NATO bases in Afghanistan or neighboring countries.

Former Afghan diplomat Ghaus Jaanbaz noted the deal has a significant political dimension, as Russia faces challenges from the war in Ukraine and tensions with the West, making Central Asia and the Afghan border more sensitive for Moscow's security planning.

Some analysts see the Russia-Taliban rapprochement as part of a wider regional shift, with Afghanistan being pulled into external power struggles due to its economic weakness, including US-China rivalry, Russia's conflict with the West, and India-Pakistan tensions.

Source: www.dw.com