Speaking at a meeting of the think tank, Delhi Policy Group here on Thursday, the visiting Second Vice President of Afghanistan Karim Khalili said : “the year 2014 is very important for our country. This year will witness withdrawal of ISAF from our soil and our country will go for presidential and provincial elections. We seek the support of the international community as well as regional cooperation for the conduct of free and fair polls in our country in a peaceful manner.”

Khalili is on an official visit to India from August 20-22 on the invitation of Vice President of India. Hamid Ansari. He is accompanied by a high level ministerial and official delegation.

On his arrival the Indian External Affairs Minister, Salman Khurshid called upon him.

On Wednesday he had a meeting with the Vice President of India Hamid Ansari and the Indian Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh. He sought India’s help in conduct of free and fair elections in his country and lauded India’s continued support for development of Afghanistan.

He also called upon the President of India Pranab Mukherjee.

The Vice President of India Hamid Ansari hosted a banquet in his honour.

Vice President Khalili's visit, after President Karzai’s visit in May 2013, carries forward the high-level engagement between the two countries.

Khalili thanked India for $2 billion assistance over the last decade in various sectors. He invited Indian investments in mineral resources.

He said that Afghanistan has launched its fifth phase of security transistion keeping in view of the slated withdrawal of ISAF by 2014. Most of the areas of the country are effectively under the control of Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF). The ANSF is in a position to deal with any threat from Taliban expect in four districts like Baghran in Helman province, Khakafghan in Zabul province, Nawa in Ghazni province and Kalandar in Paktia province where Taliban still exercises its influence.

Khalili favoured giving trade route to India through Afghanistan to Central Asia.