Krishna invites Clinton for strategic dialogue, discusses Afghanistan

Clinton rang up Krishna at 9 p.m. and discussed the initiatives that were announced during the visit of US President Barack Obama to India in November, the external affairs ministry said.

Expressing satisfaction at the successful visit of US President Barack Obama, the two also discussed the situation in Afghanistan.

Krishna expressed condolences at the untimely demise of Richard Holbrooke, the US' special envoy for Afghanistan and Pakistan who died early this month. He lauded Holbrooke as "an accomplished diplomat" who did much to advance friendship between the two countries.

Conveying season's greetings, Krishna invited Clinton to visit India for the second round of the strategic dialogue. The two sides held the first round of strategic dialogue at the level of foreign ministers in June this year.

Dates for the second round would be decided through diplomatic channels, the ministry said.

Separately, US Undersecretary for Political Affairs William J. Burns had a telephonic conversation with Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao and discussed a host of issues to take forward key decisions taken during the landmark visit of Obama to India in November.