India has said Afghanistan needed substantial assistance from the world community to deal with the menace of terrorism.

Addressing the Tokyo Conference on Afghanistan on Sunday, External Affairs Minister S M Krishna said Afghanistan faced existential threat from terrorism emanating from beyond its borders where the terror infrastructure was still intact.

The minister's comments came as Afghanistan continued to face attacks from terror safe havens in neighbouring Pakistan.

Mr Krishna said that India, believes that good governance is crucial to the building of a strong and legitimate state. But good governance also requires a strong state that has full control over its territory. This is not yet the case in Afghanistan

External Affairs Minister S M Krishna will meet his Pakistani counterpart Hina Rabbani Khar on Sunday on the sidelines of a conference. He is expected to raise the issue of terrorism following revelations by LeT handler Syed Zabiuddin Ansari alias Abu Jundal on the 2008 Mumbai carnage.

The Tokyo meet is being attended by around 70 countries and international bodies. Its main aim is to ensure

sustainable development of Afghanistan beyond 2014 and reaffirming partnership between the international community and the Afghan Government until 2014 and during the transformation decade (2015-2024).