Overview
- Russian Security Council Secretary Sergei Shoigu told a Shanghai Cooperation Organization gathering in Kyrgyzstan that Moscow is building a pragmatic, full‑fledged partnership with the Taliban government.
- Shoigu pressed member states to revive the SCO contact group with Afghanistan to expand regional coordination with Kabul.
- He said the partnership spans political talks, security cooperation, and trade, economic, cultural and humanitarian links.
- Shoigu claimed more than 20 militant groups with up to 23,000 fighters remain active in Afghanistan and credited the Taliban with fighting Islamic State.
- Russia opposes any foreign military presence in Afghanistan and says it will not send its own forces, after removing the Taliban from its terrorist list in April 2025 and recognizing their government in July 2025.