KABUL - Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Friday said his country remained committed to providing long-term assistance to Afghanistan. Singh held out the promise during a telephonic conversation with President Hamid Karzai, the Presidential Palace in Kabul said in a statement.

The Indian premier extended his condolences to the president over the assassination of his brother Ahmad Wali Karzai and advisor on tribal affairs Jan Mohammad Khan. While denouncing the killings, Singh called "terrorism the common enemy of mankind" and said that the world should jointly combat the scourge.

India being a victim of the menace would help Afghanistan against terrorism, he promised. According to the statement, the prime minister said India would extend all possible help to Afghanistan in restoration of peace and economic development. President Karzai positively responded to an invitation from Singh to visit India in the near future. He also thanked the government and people of India for their aid to Afghanistan.