The ex-KGB strongman also warned Central Asian countries that they were at an increased risk of attack from extremist militants flooding in from Afghanistan.
Chief among the nations threatened by an ISIS incursion is Tajikistan, which has the longest border with lawless Afghanistan, but Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan are also in the firing line.
Speaking at a regional summit in Kazakhstan, Mr Putin urged the leaders of those countries to work together to propel any invasion.
The proposal could include setting up a Nato-style military alliance of ex-Soviet states amid fears of Taliban "spillover" from Afghanistan.
The Russian leader described the situation in Afghanistan as "close to critical", 24 hours after Barack Obama announced almost 10,000 US troops would remain stationed in the war-torn country. » | Tom Batchelor | Saturday, October 17, 2015
