A new level of military cooperation is quietly taking shape between Beijing and Kabul, as the Taliban regime turns to China to bolster its nascent air defense capabilities. A secret document, reportedly signed by the Taliban’s Defense Minister Mullah Mohammad Yaqub Mujahid, has revealed plans to send personnel to the People’s Republic of China for specialized military training, signaling a significant deepening of ties between the two nations.
According to the leaked memo dated September 13th, the Taliban’s Ministry of Defense has formalized an agreement with Chinese authorities to train an initial group of 22 individuals. The focus of this professional training will be on advanced radar systems, a critical component of any modern air defense network. The document instructs the Taliban’s air defense command to select ‘capable, loyal, and qualified’ personnel for the mission, a process that is to be overseen by the Taliban’s strategic intelligence directorate.
This move comes amid rising security anxieties within the Taliban’s senior leadership, particularly concerning the threat of aerial attacks. The group’s supreme leader, Mullah Hibatullah Akhundzada, who resides in the southern city of Kandahar, is reportedly the primary focus of these new security measures. Fears have been amplified by the frequent appearance of unidentified drones over Kandahar, believed by local observers to belong to the United States or neighboring Pakistan, and by high-profile assassinations of foreign military leaders elsewhere in the region via drone strikes.
The Taliban’s ambition is reportedly to create a protective shield, akin to an ‘Iron Dome,’ over its leadership’s stronghold. The decision to partner with China is a calculated one. Despite the presence of Iranian advisors in their circles, Taliban leaders have seemingly shied away from seeking Tehran’s assistance in air defense, possibly a reaction to recent security failures in Iran. China, on the other hand, offers not only advanced military technology but also a growing level of mutual trust, as Beijing continues to cultivate its relationship with the new government in Kabul.
This partnership marks a pivotal moment, transforming China from a diplomatic and economic partner into a direct contributor to the Taliban regime’s security infrastructure. By training the specialists who will guard the Taliban’s top echelons, Beijing gains significant leverage and a unique window into the regime’s inner workings. This development not only cements China’s influence in Afghanistan but also carries profound implications for the region’s geopolitical landscape.