Afganistan Taliban Conducting Massive Military Exercise Near Pakistan Border With Tanks, Helicopters, and Soviet-Era Guns

In a rare and highly visible display of conventional power, the Afghan Taliban have conducted a large-scale military exercise near the Pakistan border, deploying Soviet-era air defense guns, armored tanks, helicopters, and heavy artillery. The drills mark one of the largest mobilizations by the Taliban since taking power in 2021 and come amid rising tensions with Islamabad over border clashes and militant sanctuaries.

Show of Force in a Sensitive Region

The military exercise, reportedly held in southern and eastern Afghanistan close to the Durand Line, involved a combination of live-fire artillery drills, mechanized movements, and air support operations. Footage circulating on local Afghan media channels showed columns of tanks and armored vehicles, believed to be T-55 and T-62 models left from the Soviet occupation era, maneuvering across the dusty plains under Taliban flags.

Several Mi-17 transport helicopters were also seen conducting troop-lift operations, while gun-mounted ZU-23-2 anti-aircraft cannons were positioned on ridgelines for simulated low-altitude defense. Taliban fighters, dressed in new camouflage fatigues, were observed coordinating using radio and drone surveillance equipment, signaling a growing degree of tactical sophistication within their ranks.

“The exercise demonstrates our readiness to defend every inch of Afghan soil,” a Taliban defense official told local media. “Our forces are now capable of defending our airspace, borders, and sovereignty without foreign assistance.”

Soviet-Era Arsenal Still in Use

Most of the equipment on display originated from the Soviet-Afghan War period (1979–1989) or from captured stockpiles of the former Afghan National Army. This includes T-55 and T-62 tanks, D-30 artillery pieces, and ZU-23-2 twin-barrel air defense guns, all of which remain serviceable for ground and low-altitude defense operations.

In addition to older Soviet systems, Taliban units have also been using U.S.-origin weapons and vehicles left behind after the withdrawal of American and NATO forces in August 2021.
These include Humvees, Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicles, M1117 Guardian armored cars, and small arms such as M4 carbines, M16 rifles, and light machine guns.
Some Taliban units have reportedly adapted night-vision and communication equipment from the former Afghan National Army’s U.S.-supplied inventory.

Military analysts say this mix of legacy Soviet platforms and modern U.S. gear provides the Taliban with both symbolic and practical advantages — allowing them to operate a hybrid force that combines older, heavy firepower with newer mobility and communication tools.

Tensions With Pakistan at a Boil

The timing of the drills coincides with intensified hostilities between Afghanistan and Pakistan. Over the past two months, cross-border shelling and armed clashes have killed dozens of soldiers on both sides, while each government has accused the other of harboring militants.

Islamabad has charged that the Taliban regime allows Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) militants to operate from Afghan territory — a claim Kabul denies. In turn, the Taliban have accused elements within the Pakistani military of pursuing “anti-Afghanistan policies” and attempting to destabilize the region.

Just days before the exercise, Taliban officials issued a statement condemning Pakistani artillery fire across the border, calling it a violation of Afghan sovereignty. Observers believe the military exercise was designed as a direct response to these incursions — a demonstration of readiness and deterrence.

Message of Strength — and Independence

Beyond regional signaling, analysts say the Taliban are using such exercises to project internal unity and authority. Since returning to power, the Taliban’s leadership has sought to transform its guerrilla fighters into a structured national military, now referred to as the “Islamic Emirate Army.”

While international recognition of the Taliban government remains limited, the leadership continues to consolidate military control across Afghanistan. This latest exercise is likely intended to showcase that the regime can now operate as a functioning state military, not just a network of insurgent groups.

“The Taliban are trying to send multiple messages — to Pakistan, to regional powers like China and Iran, and to their own citizens,” said Dr. Rahim Yusufzai, a Kabul-based analyst. “They want to show that Afghanistan is no longer dependent, that it can defend its borders and manage its own security.”

Regional Reactions and Strategic Implications

The exercise has drawn the attention of neighboring countries, particularly Pakistan, Iran, and China, all of whom have strategic and security interests tied to Afghanistan.

Pakistan’s military has not officially commented on the drills but has reportedly increased aerial reconnaissance and troop presence along Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa sectors. Meanwhile, China — which has invested heavily in mineral and infrastructure projects in Afghanistan — has urged “calm and restraint on both sides” following the recent border clashes.

For regional defense analysts, the Taliban’s transition toward conventional military practices marks a significant evolution. Once known solely for asymmetric warfare and insurgency tactics, the group is now attempting to modernize its forces, using old Soviet weapons as a foundation for a future standing army.

Uncertain Future, Heightened Risks

However, the move carries risk. Concentrating heavy weaponry and troops near the border could increase the chance of miscalculation or accidental escalation with Pakistan’s powerful armed forces. A single exchange of artillery fire or a drone strike could spiral into a larger confrontation — something both sides can ill afford.

For now, the Taliban’s display appears aimed at deterrence rather than confrontation, but the show of tanks, helicopters, and anti-aircraft guns sends a clear message:
Afghanistan under the Taliban is not merely guarding its borders — it is asserting its place as a military power in the region once again.