<p>President Vladimir Putin said Tuesday Russia would not interfere in Afghanistan and that Moscow had learned from the Soviet occupation of the country, a week after the Taliban swept back into power.</p>.<p>"We're not going to meddle in Afghanistan's domestic affairs or involve our military in a conflict where everyone is against each other," Putin said at a gathering of officials from the ruling United Russia party.</p>.<p>"The Soviet Union had its own experience in this country. We have learned the lessons we needed," he said.</p>.<p>Moscow invaded Afghanistan in 1979 to support an Afghan communist government in conflict with Muslim guerrilla fighters.</p>.<p>The decade-long war there left up to two million Afghans dead, forced seven million more from their homes and led to the deaths of more than 14,000 Soviet troops.</p>.<p>Putin's comments came after Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said US forces were "pawning off" Afghans fleeing the Taliban to neighbouring Moscow-allied Central Asia.</p>.<p>On a visit to Hungary, Lavrov said the United States was trying to convince "several Central Asian countries" to take in Afghans who previously worked with US forces in the now Taliban-controlled country.</p>.<p>He alleged that Washington tells the countries the Afghans will only be there temporarily.</p>.<p><strong>Also read: <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/national/india-russia-to-have-permanent-channel-to-exchange-views-on-afghanistan-1023150.html" target="_blank">India, Russia to have permanent channel to exchange views on Afghanistan</a></strong></p>.<p>"They say it's for a few months because they need time to make them visas," Lavrov said at a press conference with his Hungarian counterpart in Budapest.</p>.<p>"Afghans who worked with US forces were probably security checked inside out. Why do you need two more months to give these people a visa?" he asked, accusing the United States of a lack of respect for Central Asian nations.</p>.<p>Around 1,500 Afghans have crossed into neighbouring Uzbekistan after the Taliban takeover and are living in tents near the border, according to the Afghan embassy in Tashkent.</p>.<p>Putin complained last week about Western countries trying to place Afghan refugees in Central Asian countries "before obtaining visas to the United States or other countries."</p>.<p>Putin has warned against an influx of refugees from Afghanistan, saying militants could enter Russia under the guise of seeking asylum.</p>.<p>Several former Soviet republics in Central Asia share a border both with Afghanistan and Russia, he told officials on Sunday.</p>.<p>Moscow has been cautiously optimistic about the new leadership in Kabul.</p>.<p>The Kremlin said Tuesday it was "attentively watching" the "disagreements" on whether to extend an August 31 deadline for the complete withdrawal of US troops from Afghanistan.</p>
<p>President Vladimir Putin said Tuesday Russia would not interfere in Afghanistan and that Moscow had learned from the Soviet occupation of the country, a week after the Taliban swept back into power.</p>.<p>"We're not going to meddle in Afghanistan's domestic affairs or involve our military in a conflict where everyone is against each other," Putin said at a gathering of officials from the ruling United Russia party.</p>.<p>"The Soviet Union had its own experience in this country. We have learned the lessons we needed," he said.</p>.<p>Moscow invaded Afghanistan in 1979 to support an Afghan communist government in conflict with Muslim guerrilla fighters.</p>.<p>The decade-long war there left up to two million Afghans dead, forced seven million more from their homes and led to the deaths of more than 14,000 Soviet troops.</p>.<p>Putin's comments came after Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said US forces were "pawning off" Afghans fleeing the Taliban to neighbouring Moscow-allied Central Asia.</p>.<p>On a visit to Hungary, Lavrov said the United States was trying to convince "several Central Asian countries" to take in Afghans who previously worked with US forces in the now Taliban-controlled country.</p>.<p>He alleged that Washington tells the countries the Afghans will only be there temporarily.</p>.<p><strong>Also read: <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/national/india-russia-to-have-permanent-channel-to-exchange-views-on-afghanistan-1023150.html" target="_blank">India, Russia to have permanent channel to exchange views on Afghanistan</a></strong></p>.<p>"They say it's for a few months because they need time to make them visas," Lavrov said at a press conference with his Hungarian counterpart in Budapest.</p>.<p>"Afghans who worked with US forces were probably security checked inside out. Why do you need two more months to give these people a visa?" he asked, accusing the United States of a lack of respect for Central Asian nations.</p>.<p>Around 1,500 Afghans have crossed into neighbouring Uzbekistan after the Taliban takeover and are living in tents near the border, according to the Afghan embassy in Tashkent.</p>.<p>Putin complained last week about Western countries trying to place Afghan refugees in Central Asian countries "before obtaining visas to the United States or other countries."</p>.<p>Putin has warned against an influx of refugees from Afghanistan, saying militants could enter Russia under the guise of seeking asylum.</p>.<p>Several former Soviet republics in Central Asia share a border both with Afghanistan and Russia, he told officials on Sunday.</p>.<p>Moscow has been cautiously optimistic about the new leadership in Kabul.</p>.<p>The Kremlin said Tuesday it was "attentively watching" the "disagreements" on whether to extend an August 31 deadline for the complete withdrawal of US troops from Afghanistan.</p>