KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) — In his first visit to Afghanistan as Iran’s president, Hassan Rouhani called for regional unity Thursday as regional leaders celebrated the Persian New Year in Kabul.

Rouhani is visiting at a crucial time for Afghanistan, with national elections being held in just over a week and most U.S. and allied troops withdrawing by year’s end. With Western influence diminishing in Afghanistan, Iran, Pakistan, Tajikistan and other countries are vying to fill the vacuum.