New Delhi, Oct 16 (IANS): President Pranab Mukherjee said Thursday India was "committed to working closely with Afghanistan" and wanted it to act as a bridge between south and central Asia and beyond.

Conveying his best wishes to Ashraf Ghani Ahmadzai on assuming office as the Afghan president, Mukherjee said in his message: "India remains committed to working closely with your government as you set out to rebuild a stable, progressive and prosperous Afghanistan."

"We also share your vision of an Afghanistan that is fully integrated in south Asia, acting as a bridge between south Asia and central Asia and beyond. I sincerely believe that our bilateral relationship will continue to contribute positively to peace, stability and development in our neighbourhood in the years to come," a Rashtrapati Bhavan statement quoted the president as saying.

Mukherjee said the statesmanship and leadership shown by all Afghan political leaders and, in particular Ahmadzai himself, had been instrumental in creating the conditions for the historic and peaceful transition from one democratically elected government in Afghanistan to another.

"On behalf of India, I wish to convey my warm greetings and my best wishes as you assume the office of the president, a country with which India has a strategic partnership and a civilisational relationship," the president said.