In the 1960s and 1970s, due to cooperation between the Soviet Union and Afghanistan, there were roughly 10,000 Russian expatriate engineers, interpreters, construction workers, and other similar professionals living in the country, a figure which had grown to 15,000 by the eve of the Soviet–Afghan War in 1979.
A peculiar example of one is Noor Mohammad, previously named Sergei Yurevich Krasnoperov, who lives in Afghanistan and considers himself a proud Afghan.
[3] According to estimates there are about 500 Russian derserters or POWs now living in Afghanistan, who have even converted to Islam and married local woman and seemingly integrated into Afghan society.
Nikolai Bistrov, was personal bodyguard of Ahmad Shah Massoud, Khakim Bakhretdinov is now Sheikh Abdula, Sergei Kransnoperov, whose local name is Noormomad lives in Chaghcharan, and Alexander Levenets, whose local name is Ahmad has done Hajj to Mecca.
[5] In Balkh Province, near the border with Uzbekistan, there are also reported to be numerous Russian businessmen, who have established ventures in the food, transport, and tourism industries.