Hillary Clinton to visit India early next month

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US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton will visit India early next month as part of a three-nation Asia tour to consult with the Indian leadership on key regional and global issues including Afghanistan, Pakistan, China and Myanmar.

Clinton's sudden decision to visit India came as a surprise as a stopover in New Delhi was not on her initial Asia itinerary that was primarily meant to attend the fourth round of US-China Strategic and Economic Dialogue in Beijing on May 3-4. She will be visiting Bangladesh and India from May 5 to May 8.

The Secretary will be visiting Kolkata and New Delhi during her trip to India. The visit to New Delhi, a month ahead of the scheduled India-US Strategic Dialogue on June 13, signifies the importance Clinton personally attaches to America's relationship with India.

This also sends a clear message to all those critics who of late have been telling that all is not well for India-US relationship.

In Kolkata, the Secretary looks forward to meeting state officials and other civil society organization representatives.

During her India trip, Clinton is expected to meet Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, besides having talks with External Affairs Minister S M Krishna. She will also review progress in the strategic partnership, looking forward to the India-US strategic Dialogue to held in Washington on June 13.

The meeting between Clinton and Indian leaders gains significance as it comes immediately after her high-level talks in China and comes ahead of the crucial NATO summit in Chicago wherein some important decisions are expected to be made on Afghanistan.