The Taliban-run defense ministry on Thursday confirmed talks with Russian officials on “defense cooperation” during a visit by its delegation to Moscow.
In a statement, the ministry said the delegation, led by Mohammad Qasim Farid, Taliban deputy minister for strategy and policy, discussed “regional security, mutual cooperation and ways to prevent security challenges” with Russian counterparts.
The ministry said the talks were held with a Russian delegation led by Vasily Osmakov, Russia’s deputy defense minister for strategy and policy, and that both sides stressed the importance of continuing relations, expanding formal engagement and pursuing sustained cooperation.
Russian news agencies Interfax and TASS earlier reported that senior Russian military officials had met a Taliban delegation in Moscow.
Russia’s defense ministry said in a statement issued on Wednesday that the sides discussed the “current situation and prospects for developing military cooperation in areas of mutual interest,” and agreed to continue joint steps toward structured and systematic cooperation.
Russia is the only country to have formally recognized the Taliban administration. Analysts say Moscow’s engagement with the Taliban is driven largely by security concerns linked to Afghanistan.
Russian officials, including Moscow’s representative to the United Nations, have repeatedly warned about threats posed by militant groups operating in Afghanistan, including ISIS, and have urged the Taliban to take stronger action against them.
In April 2025, Russia’s Supreme Court suspended the Taliban’s designation as a terrorist organisation, a move that paved the way for closer engagement. Taliban have since appointed a military attaché to Moscow.
The talks come as the United Nations has warned that at least 20 militant groups, including ISIS-K, are active in Afghanistan and working to plan cross-border attacks, posing risks to Central Asia and beyond.
