United Nations: Charging Pakistan with continuing to provide moral and material support to Taleban and al-Qaida elements in Afghanistan, India has warned the international community against slackening the anti-terror campaign.

Reports of disturbances along Afghanistan's Southern and South Eastern border can only be "attributed" to the renewed efforts of al-Qaida and Taleban cadres to destabilise the country, India's Ambassador to the United Nations, V K Nambiar, said addressing the 191-member United Nations General Assembly on the situation in Afghanistan.

"Unfortunately, these elements continue to receive moral and material support from their erstwhile mentors across the border who have yet to reconcile themselves to the loss of the influence and power they once wielded," he emphasised.

He warned the international community against slackening any developmental effort, asserting that any weakening on this front would only benefit the regressive and obscurantist elements that have proved disastrous for the country.

"We reiterate the importance of ensuring that resurgent forces of religious fundamentalism and extremism, manifested in the al-Qaida and Taleban, are fully neutralised and that the intensity of anti-terror campaign is maintained," he said.

In contrast, the tension has abated in Northern Afghanistan following increased co- operation among leaders of the area, Nambiar pointed out quoting a UN report and described it as an "encouraging development".

Expressing concern over increase in poppy cultivation in Afghanistan, he called for breaking the drug-trafficking-terror nexus.

India, on its part, supported the initiative to enhance the Afghan government's capacity, encourage private sector growth and to reform fiscal policy, which were important determinants towards attainment of healthy economic growth, he said.

In this context, he reiterated India's commitment to assist Afghanistan in nation building and said though not a tradition donor, New Delhi had made contribution for its reconstruction efforts.

India had disbursed about one-third of financial assistance of $ 100 million committed by it which included budget subsidy of $ 10 million in July last and supply of three Airbus Aircraft as gift to Ariana Afghan Airlines.

Nambiar said India's assistance was focused in critical areas of health, education, transport, civil aviation, water, power, agriculture, judiciary and banking, adding the country had provided 50 buses to the Afghan government and sent over 18 tonnes of material to set up a camp for artificial limbs for amputees.

Besides, Indian experts are running a computer training centre also, he said.

"In extending our assistance, we have scrupulously adhered to the concept of Afghan ownership and prioritisation in designing and implementing programmes," Nambiar said.

India and Afghanistan are also discussing a bilateral 'preferential trading agreement', he informed the delegates.

PTI