The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on security cooperation signed by the Taliban and Russia on May 27 has generated considerable discussion, despite the fact that its contents remain undisclosed. It raises important questions about its implications for Afghanistan’s future security, foreign policy, and international standing.From a legal perspective, agreements concluded by a government that lacks broad domestic legitimacy and formal international recognition face inherent limitations in terms of legal and political acceptance. More importantly, at the strategic level, this arrangement may not necessarily advance Afghanistan’s long-term national interests. Instead, it risks drawing the country further into regional and global power rivalries.The MoU’s pitfallsEvery country has the sovereign right to establish relations and cooperate with other states. However, Afghanistan’s current geopolitical circumstances require particular caution. Major powers rarely enter strategic partnerships primarily to advance Afghan interests; rather, they do so to pursue their own national priorities.Russia, at present, neither appears willing nor able to provide Afghanistan with the level of economic, military, or political support that would normally characterise a strategic partnership. This raises a fundamental question: if Russia is being presented as a strategic partner, what strategic opportunity or threat is driving such a relationship?The growing engagement between Russia and the Taliban appears to be driven by immediate security and p …
