WASHINGTON - United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon met visiting Afghan Foreign Minister Zalmai Rassoul and reiterated the world body's commitment to Afghanistan.
Ban renewed the commitment of the United Nations to assist the people of Afghanistan during talks with the minister in New York, a UN official said after the meeting on the sidelines of the General Assembly.

Ban and Rassoul agreed on the need for sustained focus on development, governance and the rule of law, as well as a long-term commitment by the international community to supporting the country beyond 2014, the UN said.

"The Secretary-General and the Foreign Minister discussed the political and security situation in Afghanistan in the context of the transition process," the UN statement said, adding the two leaders exchanged views on the forthcoming mandate review of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA).

The upcoming conferences in Istanbul and Bonn would provide useful opportunity to do this and strengthen regional cooperation in both economic and security dimensions, the statement said, explaining Ban reiterated the United Nations' readiness to support an inclusive, Afghan-led reconciliation process.