Afghanistan has 13 cases so far, in comparison to the 31 it reported last year.

Azad said the government has constituted the India Expert Advisory Group (IEAG) that comprises of national and international experts in the field of public health, epidemiology and virology.

The group meets each year to review the polio situation and give recommendations to the government on how to eradicate polio, he said.

'IEAG in its last meeting held in June has concluded that epidemiological, virological, genetic, operational and technical evidence suggests that India is firmly on the right path to attain polio eradication,' he said.

However, he added that no firm date can be given when the disease could be eradicated.