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Afghanistan, Russia sign military cooperation agreement
The deal is expected to strengthen defense and security cooperation between the two countries.
Afghanistan and Russia signed a military-technical cooperation agreement during the International Security Forum held this week in the Moscow region, marking another step in the expanding relationship between Kabul and Moscow.
The agreement was signed on May 27 on the sidelines of the forum, according to Russian media reports. While officials have not publicly disclosed the details of the document, the deal is expected to strengthen defense and security cooperation between the two countries.
The signing comes amid growing diplomatic engagement between the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (IEA) and Russia. Afghan Defense Minister Mohammad Yaqoob recently told Russian Security Council Secretary Sergey Shoigu that bilateral cooperation between Kabul and Moscow had significantly expanded in recent months.
Earlier this month in Bishkek, Shoigu said Russia had established direct dialogue with the Islamic Emirate and was working toward what he described as a “full-fledged partnership” with Afghanistan’s current authorities. He also urged regional countries to broaden engagement with Kabul.
Relations between Afghanistan and Russia have steadily improved since the IEA returned to power in 2021. In April 2025, Russia’s Supreme Court suspended the longstanding ban on the Islamic Emirate’s activities in Russia, paving the way for deeper political, economic and security cooperation.
Moscow has increasingly positioned Afghanistan as an important regional partner as Russia seeks to strengthen its influence in Central and South Asia following major geopolitical shifts in the region.
The agreement was signed as Russia continues to expand its broader military posture. Russian lawmakers recently granted President Vladimir Putin greater authority to deploy troops abroad in cases involving the detention of Russian citizens overseas.
The Washington-based Institute for the Study of War has also reported that Russia is expanding its nuclear capabilities at what it described as the fastest pace since the Cold War.
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Afghanistan received more than $11 billion in humanitarian aid over the past five years
Afghanistan has received more than $11 billion in humanitarian assistance since the Islamic Emirate returned to power in August 2021, according to United Nations figures cited by the BBC.
Despite the substantial aid, the gap between humanitarian needs and available funding remains wide, with the United Nations warning that millions of Afghans continue to require assistance.
The decline in international funding, a growing number of people in need and the return of millions of Afghan migrants from neighboring countries have added pressure to the country’s humanitarian situation.
Afghanistan’s humanitarian crisis deepened following the collapse of the previous government in August 2021. The depreciation of the national currency, the loss of hundreds of thousands of jobs and reductions in some international support programs further strained the economy and living conditions.
UN data shows that Afghanistan received about $5.2 billion in humanitarian assistance in 2021, followed by around $3.8 billion in 2022 and nearly $2 billion in 2023.
For 2024 and 2025, the United Nations appealed for more than $3 billion to address humanitarian needs in Afghanistan. However, funding fell short of the amounts requested.
The assistance has largely been directed toward food, healthcare, support for returnees and other urgent humanitarian needs.
The United Nations continues to classify Afghanistan as one of the world’s largest humanitarian crises, stressing that sustained international support remains essential for millions of Afghans who continue to need assistance.
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Afghanistan expresses condolences over deadly Indonesia earthquake
The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (IEA) has expressed deep sorrow over a powerful earthquake that struck eastern Indonesia, killing at least 53 people and forcing around 5,000 others to evacuate.
A magnitude-7.7 earthquake struck Flores Island and surrounding areas on Saturday, blocking roads and triggering landslides, Indonesian authorities said.
In a statement, Afghanistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs conveyed its sympathy and condolences to the government and people of Indonesia over the casualties caused by the earthquake.
It also wished a speedy recovery to those injured in the incident.
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Afghan commerce minister meets Uzbek deputy prime minister in Termez
Afghanistan’s Minister of Industry and Commerce, Nooruddin Azizi, met with Uzbekistan’s Deputy Prime Minister Jamshed Khojaev in the city of Termez to discuss expanding economic cooperation and joint investment.
The meeting, held on Saturday at the Termez Trade Center, focused on cooperation in the electricity, mining and agriculture sectors, Afghanistan’s Ministry of Industry and Commerce said in a statement.
Uzbek officials expressed interest in investing in various sectors in Afghanistan. The Afghan delegation welcomed the interest and emphasized its readiness to create the necessary conditions for expanding economic cooperation and joint investment.
Mohammad Yousuf Wafa, governor of Balkh, and Abdul Ghaffar Bahr, Afghanistan’s ambassador to Tashkent, also attended the meeting.
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