Iraq, Syria militants entering Afghanistan, says Putin

Russian President Vladimir Putin said Wednesday that militants from Iraq and Syria are "actively" entering Afghanistan and the situation in Afghanistan is not easy," Putin said during a video conference with security service chiefs of ex-Soviet states. "It is possible that militants from Iraq, Syria with experience in military operations, may try to destabilise the situation in neighbouring states," he added, warning that they could even try "direct expansion".

Putin has repeatedly warned about members of extremist groups exploiting political turmoil in Afghanistan to cross into neighbouring ex-Soviet countries as refugees. While Moscow has been cautiously optimistic about the new Taliban leadership in Kabul, the Kremlin is concerned about instability spilling over into Central Asia where it houses military bases. In the wake of the Taliban takeover, Russia held military drills with ex-Soviet Tajikistan -- where it operates a military base -- and in Uzbekistan. Both countries share a border with Afghanistan.