India Monday welcomed the holding of the Parliamentary (Wolesi Jirga) and Provincial elections in Afghanistan on Sunday.

"They constitute an important stage in Afghanistan's journey toward a peaceful, stable and prosperous society and demonstrate the choice of the Afghan people for a non-violent and democratic way of life," a foreign office statement said Monday.

According to the statement, India's support for a sovereign, democratic and prosperous Afghanistan was reiterated during the visit of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to Kabul in August 2005.

India stands ready to continue contributing to the task of rebuilding Afghanistan, including through the strengthening of Afghanistan's democratic institutions, the statement added.

India is among the top six contributors to Afghanistan's reconstruction. New Delhi has committed over 500 million US dollars as assistance to Kabul since 2002 and is helping it in areas as diverse as infrastructure, education, healthcare and social welfare.

Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh during his recent visit to Afghanistan had also announced an additional 50 million US dollars financial assistance to the war-ravaged country.

Source: Xinhua