New York: Forthcoming Presidential polls in Afghanistan and the war-torn country's reconstruction needs figured prominently during a meeting between Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and President Hamid Karzai in New York with New Delhi assuring Kabul of further assistance in rebuilding the nation.

Singh, who met Karzai yesterday (Sep 21, 2004) on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly session, assured Afghanistan of any further assistance in various fields to rebuild the nation, Foreign Secretary Shyam Saran told reporters in New York.

He described the meeting between two leaders as "warm" and "friendly".

The Prime Minister told Karzai that India was committed to contribute to the stabilisation and reconstruction of Afghanistan, Saran said.

Singh told Karzai that he was free to indicate in what other ways India could support the reconstruction of Afghanistan.

Karzai expressed appreciation of Singh's offer and said there was a lot more that he would like India to do in virtually every field.

No specifics were mentioned during the meeting but Saran said if there were any other areas which are identified by Afghanistan, "I am sure we will respond positively".

Briefing Singh on the October Presidential elections in Afghanistan, Karzai said he was extremely encouraged by the fact that there were by now almost ten million registered voters, of whom 42 per cent were women.

This, Karzai said, augured very well for a popular, credible election in Afghanistan.