Visiting Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and his Afghan host President Hamid Karzai yesterday called on countries in the region to join forces in the war on terror.

"Terrorism poses a threat to civilized existence and therefore we have an obligation to work together to deal with this menace," Singh told journalists at a joint news conference with Karzai.

Singh, who has received a red carpet welcome, is the first Indian prime minister to visit Afghanistan in almost three decades.

Reaffirming his government's commitment to post-war Afghanistan, Singh said that New Delhi was ready to assist Afghanistan in any field deemed necessary.

"We have to strengthen the economy of Afghanistan. We have to ensure that the democratic process, which is underway and moves forward smoothly. So, whatever help that the government of Afghanistan may ask for we will be very happy to consider," noted the Indian prime minister.

"It is for the government and for the people of Afghanistan to indicate to us what type of help is required. We are ready to offer that sort of assistance," he said at the presidential palace in Kabul.

Karzai, who thanked the Indian Government for its contribution in rebuilding the war-torn central Asian state, emphasized regional co-operation in war on terrorism.

"With the help of the international community and the great desire of Afghan people, terrorism was defeated in Afghanistan. We hope that all of us will work together to remove this menace from this region and from the world at large," Karzai said.

The two leaders earlier exchanged views on matters of mutual concern such as Afghanistan's reconstruction, bilateral relations, the war on terrorism and the regional situation.

During his two-day stay here, Singh met Afghan leaders and is due today to attend the groundbreaking ceremony for Afghanistan's new parliament building, to which India has committed US$25 million.

(China Daily August 29, 2005)