The difference is the scale [0] at which they are manufacturing [1] now that the Taliban control Afghanistan, as well as the fact that Afghan media is report "international engineers from countries including Turkey, Russia, Belarus, Bangladesh, and China" [1] as well as India [2] are collaborating on the project.
> The Taliban are attempting to develop armed drones.
I think it's safe to assume that every militant group with more than one or two members is doing so.
The difference is the scale [0] at which they are manufacturing [1] now that the Taliban control Afghanistan, as well as the fact that Afghan media is report "international engineers from countries including Turkey, Russia, Belarus, Bangladesh, and China" [1] as well as India [2] are collaborating on the project.
[0] - https://thediplomat.com/2026/03/why-is-afghanistan-developin...
[1] - https://en.didpress.com/16426/?ut
[2] - https://www.afintl.com/202606200748
Someone's always gonna be first, but that's not gonna be a difference for long.
> Aug 28, 2025
Needs this in the title.
> While Afghanistan has seen no active combat since August 2021
^ this was the giveaway
In terms of strategic impact so far, I'd say the program has been a bust:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2026_Afghanistan%E2%80%93Pakis...
Not exactly. Most of those drones are being used fairly effectively by the Taliban's Pakistan branch [0].
Most reporting on the war is being overshadowed by Iran or being done in Dari or Pakhtu.
[0] - https://southasianvoices.org/sec-m-pk-r-ttp-drone-threat-06-...