Putin throws Taliban a lifeline as Soviet arsenal kickstarts

Russia is set to help repair Afghanistan’s ageing Soviet-era military hardware under a new agreement with the Taliban, deepening ties between Moscow and the Islamist rulers as they remain largely isolated from the West.

The deal, signed at a security forum in Moscow, marks a significant step in Russia’s expanding relationship with the Taliban government. It also raises fresh questions about the future military capabilities of a regime that returned to power after the chaotic collapse of Afghanistan’s Western-backed government in 2021.

Old Enemies Become New Partners

The agreement carries a striking historical irony. The Taliban movement emerged from the generations shaped by Afghanistan’s brutal war against Soviet occupation, yet its leaders are now turning to Moscow for military assistance.

Former Afghan security official Ahmad Shuja Jamal said many Taliban figures built their political identity fighting Soviet forces. Now, he noted, the sons of those fighters are negotiating defence agreements with the very country their fathers once regarded as an occupying enemy.

A Military Rebuild Takes Shape

The Taliban inherited a vast collection of Soviet-made equipment, including T-55 and T-62 tanks, BMP infantry fighting vehicles and Mi-17 and Mi-24 helicopters. Much of the hardware has sat idle for years due to maintenance problems and shortages of spare parts.

Russian presidential envoy Zamir Kabulov said Afghan officials are primarily seeking help to restore Russian-made military equipment. The move represents the first concrete step in implementing the new military cooperation agreement.

Western Equipment Falls Out of Favour

While the Taliban also seized large quantities of Western military hardware after the US withdrawal, former Afghan intelligence chief Ahmad Zia Saraj said maintaining those systems without NATO support has proved difficult and costly.

Instead, Taliban leaders reportedly ordered a shift back towards Soviet-era equipment, gathering former military technicians to restore ageing tanks and aircraft. Efforts reportedly stalled because replacement parts remained out of reach without Russian assistance.

A New Arsenal Emerges

If the repairs succeed, Afghanistan could soon field an unusual hybrid force combining American-made rifles with refurbished Soviet armour and helicopters.

For Moscow, the deal expands influence in a strategically important region. For the Taliban, it offers a pathway to rebuilding military capabilities. For Western governments watching from afar, it is another sign that geopolitical fault lines created after the Afghanistan withdrawal continue to shift.

'Shameless' Taliban enlist Russian help in repairing Soviet hardware