U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan, right, with Singh prior to a meeting at the U.N. headquarters in New York on Sept. 21.

Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai, President of South Africa Thabo Mbeki and U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan were among the world leaders who met Dr. Manmohan Singh on the sidelines of the 59th U.N. General Assembly session in New York.

Forthcoming presidential elections in Afghanistan and the need for the reconstruction of the war-torn country figured prominently during the meeting between Singh and Karzai on Sept. 22. Singh also assured Afghanistan of further assistance in various fields to rebuild the nation, Foreign Secretary Shyam Saran was quoted as saying.

The Prime Minister told Karzai during the meeting (which was described as “warm” and “friendly”) that India was committed to contribute to the stabilization and reconstruction of Afghanistan, Saran was quoted as saying. In the meeting with Mbeki on Sept. 22, the two discussed bilateral issues, including the looming pandemic of HIV/AIDS in the African nation.

Earlier, Singh met Kofi Annan on Sept. 21 and reaffirmed New Delhi’s commitment to U.N. reform in general and Security Council reform in particular. The prime minister reiterated India’s strong commitment to the U.N. and effective multilateralism.

–– Indo-Asian News Service