The head of Russia’s Foreign Intelligence Service, Sergei Naryshkin, has visited Kabul and met with Abdul Haq Wasiq, the head of the Taliban government’s intelligence agency, as well as several other senior officials.
A well-informed source in Kabul told the BBC that the two sides discussed expanding bilateral relations, exchanging intelligence, and strengthening joint security cooperation during the meetings.
The source did not provide further details about the agenda of the discussions.
The visit comes two weeks after Russia invited a military delegation affiliated with the Taliban Ministry of Defence’s training institution to observe the country’s 2026 military exercises. Russian President Vladimir Putin also attended the exercises.
Russia is the only country to have formally recognised the Taliban government. In July this year, the Taliban government also announced that it had signed a security cooperation agreement with Moscow.
The visit by the head of Russia’s Foreign Intelligence Service to Kabul is considered a significant development in high-level intelligence relations. Previously, Ibrahim Kalin, the head of Turkey’s intelligence agency, also visited Kabul in September. His visit was reportedly aimed at helping ease tensions between Kabul and Islamabad.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov also stated at a meeting of the Moscow Format that his country was prepared to mediate efforts to normalise relations between Afghanistan and Pakistan and bring an end to tensions between the two countries.
Writer:Saeed Sameer
