On 1 October, Russia announced that it would give Afghanistan ten AN-12 Cub military transport aircraft and MI-8 Hip helicopters free of charge. In the future, as the Afghan economy grows, the Russians mentioned that they would "discuss" regular commercial partnership in deliveries of military transport aircraft, communication assets, automobiles and spare parts to them, as well as fuel and lubricants. The delivery agreement was reached during Russian Defense Minister Sergei Ivanov's visit to Kabul in September. - Adam Geibel