Is the Taliban-Russia MoU good for Afghanistan?
The recently signed agreement is unlikely to advance the country’s long-term national interests.
![Ambassador of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan to Russia Gul Hassan Hassan attends a ceremony to present his letter of credence to Russia's President Vladimir Putin in Moscow on January 15, 2026 [Ramil Sitdikov/Reuters]](/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/2026-05-14T084239Z_219084755_RC2P1JA6L869_RTRMADP_3_RUSSIA-AFGHANISTAN-TALIBAN-1780412125.jpg?resize=770%2C513&quality=80)
The recently signed agreement is unlikely to advance the country’s long-term national interests.
![Ambassador of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan to Russia Gul Hassan Hassan attends a ceremony to present his letter of credence to Russia's President Vladimir Putin in Moscow on January 15, 2026 [Ramil Sitdikov/Reuters]](/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/2026-05-14T084239Z_219084755_RC2P1JA6L869_RTRMADP_3_RUSSIA-AFGHANISTAN-TALIBAN-1780412125.jpg?resize=770%2C513&quality=80)








The strikes were the first since the two agreed to halt the violence at peace talks last month.

Tens of thousands of Afghans have been displaced by recent fighting along the Pakistan border, forced into tent camps.
Former pace bowler Zadran is receiving treatment for HLH, a rare immune system disorder, at a hospital in India.
Former soldier is accused of murdering five people in Afghanistan.











Dozens of mourners in Afghanistan gathered to pray for victims of a shooting in Herat that killed at least 11 people.
Kabul’s foreign minister expresses hope that minor interpretations will not hinder progress.
Charges come after Roberts-Smith lost case against reporters who said he was involved in murders of unarmed Afghan men.
The household’s only survivor was a young boy who was injured in the tremor.
China has been trying to mediate a negotiated settlement to the conflict between the allies-turned-foes.