MOSCOW - The Kremlin has trouble understanding recent US policy announcements that it would pull its troops out of Afghanistan by 2014, but at the same time build new military bases there, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Monday. 'At least at the first glace, one contradicts the other,' Lavrov said at a Moscow press conference. 'We are trying to figure out what is going to happen.'

Lavrov, in comments to the Interfax news agency, said it was important for the US and Russia to have a clear understanding of both countries' plans for Central and South Asia, particularly to coordinate efforts in countries with security problems like Afghanistan.

'We need to understand what specific tasks these US bases in Afghanistan will have, once the troops leave,' Lavrov said.

US President Barack Obama in June said all American combat troops would leave Afghanistan by 2014.

Russia has generally been critical of the US intervention in Afghanistan, but has assisted Washington and NATO with intelligence thought to be collected by a network of Kremlin spies in Central Asia. (DPA)