Militants From Iraq, Syria 'Actively' Pouring In Afghanistan: Russian President Putin

In a virtual conference with security service chiefs of former-Soviet states, the Russian President said that the contemporary situation in Afghanistan is not easy.

President of Russia, Vladimir Putin. (Source: PTI)

New Delhi: President of Russia, Vladimir Putin on Wednesday said that the militants from Iraq and Syria are "actively" pouring into Afghanistan, AFP reported.

In a virtual conference with security service chiefs of former-Soviet states, the Russian President said that the contemporary situation in Afghanistan is not easy.

With an alarming number of militants from the war-torn Iraq and Syria drawing in Afghanistan, Putin said, "It is possible that terrorists may try to destabilise the situation in neighbouring states," he added, warning that they could even try "direct expansion."

Moscow is concerned with a threat of instability that is looming over Central Asia with the current situation in Afghanistan.

Russia was recently engaged in a military drill with former-Soviet Tajikistan along with Uzbekistan. Russia has its military bases in both countries. According to AFP, Kremlin's cause for concern with the situation in Afghanistan is due to the borders which the Talian controlled Afghanistan shares with both Tajikistan and Uzbekistan, where it houses military bases.

In the recently held virtual conference, Tajikistan's nation security Chief Saimumin Yatimov voiced his concern as Afghanistan has intensified its attempts to "smuggle drugs, weapons, ammunition" into his nation.

Earlier on Wednesday, French President Emmanuel Macron hosted Tajikistan's leader Emomali Rakhmon in Paris. He further vowed to provide aid to the Central Asian state to maintain stability in its territory.

The Taliban controlled Afghanistan has maintained its stand that it will not provoke any sort of instability with the Central Asian Country. However, the ex-Soviet republics have claimed that the targeted attacks in their region has been facilitated by the allies of the Afghan Islamists.

(With inputs from AFP)