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Milley discussed Putin offer to use Russian bases to monitor Afghanistan: report
US General Mark Milley, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, discussed an offer from Russian President Vladimir Putin to use Russia’s military bases in Central Asia to respond to emerging terrorist threats in Afghanistan, according to a Wall Street Journal report.
Milley brought up the offer last week during a meeting with Russian Chief of General Staff Valery Gerasimov, the Journal reported, citing U.S officials. This was reportedly done at the request of President Biden’s National Security Council staff.
The idea of hosting US military personnel on Russian bases was first brought up by Putin on June 16 in Geneva, the Journal reported. National Security Council staffers had asked Milley to gain clarification on whether this was a legitimate offer or simply a debating point.
The officials told the Journal that Gerasimov was evasive when it came to committing to the offer.
The Hill has reached out to the Joint Chiefs of Staff for comment. When contacted by the Journal, the Kremlin declined to comment.
Since its withdrawal from Afghanistan, the US has relied on bases in the Persian Gulf region to monitor the country, leaving hundreds of miles between U.S. personnel and potential targets. During the Geneva summit, Putin voiced his opposition to American efforts to negotiate military access in Central Asian governments, instead bringing up Russian military bases as an alternative.
A White House official told the Journal that the U.S. would not be asking for Russia’s permission to place forces closer to Afghanistan, though they would seek to better understand the Russian president’s stance.
“We will pursue our own policies based on our own objectives,” said the Biden official. “The reality is Russia is an element of the equation in the region and so we are engaging with them.”
This report on Milley’s discussion with his Russian counterpart comes as he is set to face what will likely be a harsh grilling from lawmakers on Capitol Hill. Milley and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin are expected to face tough questioning during a Senate hearing on Tuesday focusing on the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan.
Some GOP lawmakers have called for Milley’s resignation and have also attacked him for allegations made about him in a recent book by journalists Bob Woodward and Robert Costa. The book, “Peril,” cites sources claiming Milley sought to limit former President Trump’s military capabilities following the deadly January 6 Capitol attack.
“I think he’s going to get a grilling like he’s never seen before. And if he takes the bait and gets argumentative and defensive, it’s going to be a big problem,” a defense official told The Hill.
Amir Khan Muttaqi, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Emirate, and Rosemary DiCarlo, UN Under-Secretary-General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs, discussed the state of cooperation between Afghanistan and the United Nations, humanitarian assistance, and the needs of returning Afghan migrants.
According to a statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the two sides emphasized the importance of joint and coordinated efforts for the sustainable reintegration of returnees.
Afghanistan’s needs in the areas of climate change and water, increased cooperation in these sectors, and the regional situation were also among the topics discussed.
The two sides also exchanged views on ways to identify new opportunities within the framework of the Doha Process.
A delegation from the Afghanistan Chamber of Commerce and Investment (ACCI), led by Director General Sayed Karim Hashemi, attended the Third Turkmenistan Investment Forum in Ashgabat on October 1, 2026.
The forum was held at the invitation of Turkmenistan’s Ministry of Economy and brought together official delegations, economic and commercial institutions, traders, and investors from several countries.
According to the ACCI, participants discussed investment opportunities, economic potential, and ways to expand trade and economic cooperation among participating countries.
The chamber said its delegation used the forum to present Afghanistan’s economic potential, explore investment opportunities, expand export markets, and strengthen trade and economic ties with Turkmenistan and other countries in the region.
On the sidelines of the forum, Hashemi invited the Chairman of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Turkmenistan to visit Afghanistan at the head of a trade and economic delegation.
The invitation was welcomed, and the two sides agreed that the Turkmenistan chamber chief would visit Afghanistan in November 2026.
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Iran’s Qaani: We must strengthen the belt of defense and dignity from Afghanistan to Yemen
Esmail Qaani, commander of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Quds Force, has called for strengthening what he described as a “belt of defense, independence and dignity” from Afghanistan to Yemen.
Speaking at a ceremony in Tehran on Thursday, Qaani said: “We must strengthen the belt of defense, independence and dignity from Afghanistan to Yemen, and from Iran to Gaza and Lebanon, across the Muslim world.”
He also claimed that the so-called “resistance axis” continues on its path despite the killing of a number of its commanders.
The Quds Force commander further claimed that the United States had been expelled from Iraq despite its extensive capabilities and equipment, and had suffered a defeat against Iran.
Qaani added that the U.S. had believed it could force Iran to surrender within four days or, at most, two weeks, but instead faced circumstances that were different from its calculations.
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