NEW DELHI: Russia and the Taliban have signed a military-technical cooperation agreement that entails arms exchanges, licensing, military technologies, and joint development projects in a move that would irk Pakistan.Afghanistan's stability has been on agenda of India-Russia dialogue and defence pact would be a matter of interest for New Delhi that has backed Kabul's sovereignty in the face of Pakistan's military attacks.This is the first defence pact (signed this week on the sidelines of the International Security Forum in Moscow) that the current Taliban regime has signed with any country with Kabul seeking military support against aggression by the Pakistan military.The pact was signed following a meeting between Taliban defence minister Mawlawi Mohammad Yaqoob and Sergei Shoigu, secretary of Russia's Security Council. ET has learnt that the deal includes arms exchanges, licensing, military technologies, and joint development projects.China is building launch pads near its nuclear missile silosWhile Taliban repelled Pakistan's cross-border strikes last year and this year, it is seeking to bolster its defence infrastructure.Yaqoob described the relationship with Russia as highly important. "Interaction with Russia has an important meaning for us. Afghanistan and Russia have long and historical relations; in this direction, we want to move further. We have expanded bilateral relations," he was quoted as saying by Russian media Interfax.During the meeting, Shoigu said Western countries should release Afghanistan's frozen assets, accept responsibility for their 20-year presence in the country, and contribute to Afghanistan's reconstruction, according to the Interfax report.Govt mulling expansion of BSF's operational mandate: Amit ShahThe Taliban defence ministry, following the pact, said the two sides discussed bilateral cooperation and "a number of other important issues," but did not disclose the details.Moscow has gradually strengthened its engagement with the Taliban 2.0. In April 2025, Russia's Supreme Court removed the group from its list of terrorist organisations. The Kremlin subsequently accepted a Taliban-appointed ambassador, and in July 2025, Russia became the first country to formally recognise the Taliban government.But Moscow is worried with the growing presence of ISIS and other radicals in Afghanistan that can spillover into Eurasia with support from other extremist groups in the region. Pakistan has been accused of funding and abetting ISIS in Afghanistan.Earlier this month, Shoigu had claimed that between 18,000 and 23,000 fighters linked to more than 20 armed groups are operating in Afghanistan. He highlighted terrorism and drug trafficking as major risks to Central Asia's stability.