"As had been the case with Afghanistan, Iraq turned into a major hotbed of terrorist threat, a firing ground and 'incubator' for militants," the Russian leader, who is on a three-day visit to India, told The Hindu newspaper.

"It is here (Iraq) and now that thousands of future terrorists are being recruited by terrorist networks. Those forces, most probably, can be employed in other regions of the world," he said.

Russia, which has faced a series of deadly attacks by separatists battling its rule in mainly Muslim Chechnya, opposed the US-led invasion of Iraq.

Putin said actions by the world community to tackle "the terrorist international" should "start from international law" and be concerted and united.

He said in written responses to questions posed by the newspaper that differences between global players over Iraq had led to a "significant slowdown" in developing international "anti-terrorist interaction."

Putin said developments in Iraq had proved that the unilateral action taken by the United States and its allies was counter-productive.

"Terrorist activities there are not diminishing while peaceful Iraqis and citizens of other states become victims of violence."

Putin said foreign leaders often asked him how countries' security and sovereignty could be guaranteed if global affairs were to be dealt with "according to the Iraqi model."

He said Moscow had repeatedly called "our American partners' attention to this reality. And eventually, they realised the need to reach a political settlement in Iraq using the UN mechanisms."

Moscow, he said, had always held that the Iraqi situation could only be settled through a nationwide dialogue to reach national reconciliation.