The United Nations and the international community will fully support Afghanistan after the 2014 withdrawal of NATO combat troops, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said, dpa reported.
Ban said late Tuesday the strengthening of Afghan national security forces and the planned presidential election in April were the most important milestones next year and "we are committed to support your difficult challenges."
President Hamid Karzai has run the country since the ouster of the Taliban in 2001 but is constitutionally barred from running again.
"This election should be very credible, democratic and non-violent so that the will of the people will be reflected" in the choice of the future president, Ban said.
Ban said "how you manage the situation" post-2014 will be "a key priority and key challenges for people in Afghanistan, neighbouring countries and the world as a whole."
Peace and stability in Afghanistan had very serious regional implications, he said.