"We heard ... that they [the Taliban*] have no [ill] intentions, they will not create problems for their neighbors, including the countries of Central Asia, they have no plans to invade their territory," the minister said at the All Russia-2021 forum of modern journalism.
According to the stateman, Russia is working with Central Asian countries with respect to Afghanistan.
"But now we have no reason to see a real threat of these turbulent events spilling over into the territory of our allies. We are doing everything to be ready for such a situation," Lavrov said, adding that Russia "is keeping the powder dry."
Moscow had no intention of sending a delegation to Afghanistan for the inauguration of the Taliban’s interim government, Lavrov added.
"We never intended, I will tell you frankly, to recommend to our leadership to be represented there at the inauguration by a delegation from Moscow," the minister said.
Moscow considers an ambassador a "good enough level" for the country’s representation at the inauguration. The Russian embassy in Kabul is still operating, providing "very useful information," Lavrov added.
On Wednesday, a Taliban source told Sputnik that the movement invited Russia, China, Qatar, Turkey, Pakistan and Iran for the inauguration ceremony of the Afghan interim government headed by Mullah Hasan Akhund, a close ally of the Islamist militant group's founder, Mullah Omar. A day later, however, the Taliban officially said the ceremony had been canceled several days ago.
*A terrorist organization banned in Russia