New Delhi, Oct 18 (IANS): Prime Minister Narendra Modi Saturday said Afghanistan had achieved "huge" progress under its former president Hamid Karzai and congratulated him for the formation of the new national unity government in that country.

Modi, who spoke with Karzai over phone, congratulated the former Afghan president for his leadership in ensuring a historic and peaceful political transition and formation of a national unity government in Afghanistan.

"This would not have been possible without the wisdom, courage and foresight of Karzai," he said.

The prime minister noted that under Karzai, Afghanistan had achieved huge progress in its quest to build a strong, peaceful, inclusive, prosperous and democratic Afghanistan, an official release said here.

He also warmly recalled Karzai's contribution to the strengthening of India-Afghanistan relations, the release said.

He said that both India and Afghanistan had new governments in place which look to Karzai as a mentor for guidance in furtherance of bilateral relations.

Karzai, on his part, said that he deeply cherished his long association with India. "No other country in the world had done as much for Afghanistan as India had despite constraints of resources".

The former Afghan president said he was confident that the new government in Afghanistan will continue to attach the highest priority to strengthening ties with India.