Obama likely to visit India later this year

New Delhi, Feb. 20 (ANI): US President Barack Obama is likely to visit India later this year, Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia, Robert Blake, has revealed.

While he didn't announce any dates for the visit, Blake said President Obama considers India an indispensable partner of the US.

Addressing the Chicago Council on Global Affairs in Washington, he pointed out that India is on top of the agenda of the Obama Administration, which is reflected in the very fact that he invited Prime Minister Manmohan Singh for his first State Visit in November last year.

Blake added that New Delhi and the US share common ideals and complementary strengths reflected in their very close people-to-people contacts, shared embrace of democratic principles and willingness to work together on issues that matter not only to them but to the global community.

Blake appreciated New Delhi's valuable assistance to the war-torn Afghanistan's reconstruction, both in infrastructure and humanitarian fields. (ANI)