U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry who is scheduled to visit India this week said that New Delhi and Washington share a strong commitment to peace in Afghanistan.
"We are going to talk about our shared interests and enhancing economic integration in the region, our commitment to a secure, stable and prosperous Afghanistan and our support for India's regional leadership. This is a critical, ongoing conversation between the United States and India. It's one that demonstrates our firm belief that a strong India is in America's national interests," said John Kerry ahead of his visit to India and Pakistan.
While saying both India and U.S. are committed to secure peace and security in Afghanistan, John Kerry said India is a rising power.
"The United States not only welcomes India as a rising power, we fervently support it and that's why President Obama and I support India's inclusion as a permanent member of a reformed and expanded United Nations Security Council," said Kerry.
The U.S. State secretary, who is likely to discuss Afghanistan with India during his trip to Asia, said "today the U.S. and India collaborate closely in almost every field of human endeavor."
"Together we are tackling shared challenges and making the most of new opportunities, from higher education to clean energy, from counter-terrorism to space science. We are seizing new opportunities to work together and in doing so we are increasing the prosperity and security of both of our people," added Kerry.
During his visit to India, Kerry will also open the second annual U.S.-India Higher Education Dialogue and meet with a number of young Indian leaders and innovators at an event, highlighting Washington-Delhi cooperation on clean energy, science and technology, poverty alleviation and climate change.
The visit is also expected to lay the ground work for Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's meeting with U.S. President Barack Obama later this year, according to ANI.
After visiting India, Kerry is set to visit Pakistan.
