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Taliban may have used Soviet-era Elbrus missile system to strike Pakistan: report

Web Desk
|
15 Oct 2025
The Taliban may have used the 9K72 Elbrus tactical missile system, a weapon originally developed during the Cold War era, to strike Pakistan on the night of Oct 12, according to a media report.
A video shared by Untold News on its X page showed what appeared to be two missile launches, believed to be carried out from Afghan territory.
In a separate development, a convoy of military trucks was seen transporting 8K14 R-17 missiles, which are used with the Elbrus system. The same convoy reportedly included 9M21F missiles, compatible with the 9K52 Luna-M tactical system.
These missile systems were previously showcased by the Taliban during a military parade in 2022. According to defense observers, the launchers are believed to be remnants from the Soviet era, likely salvaged from the Panjshir Gorge, where they had been stored in deteriorating conditions for decades.
Both the Elbrus and Luna-M systems were brought into Afghanistan by the Soviet Union during its military intervention from 1979 to 1989. After Soviet forces withdrew, around 43 launchers remained in the country. These systems were subsequently operated by a missile battalion under the Special Forces Guards of the Afghan Ministry of State Security. By 2005, only five of these launchers were believed to still be operational.
Historical records indicate that between 1989 and 1991, Soviet forces used more than 4,300 missiles—specifically the 8K14-1 and 9M21 types—within Afghanistan.
The 9K72 Elbrus system, which fires the R-17 ballistic missile, was developed between 1958 and 1961. It is capable of striking targets such as enemy troops, command centers, and airfields at a range of up to 300 kilometers using a liquid-fueled engine.
Meanwhile, the 9K52 Luna-M system was officially adopted in 1964, following the first test launch of its 9M21 missile in late 1961. This missile system has an effective range of up to 70 kilometers.
The reported use of these aging yet still potent weapons marks a significant escalation in regional tensions and raises new concerns over the Taliban’s growing military capabilities.
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