The External Affairs Minister S M Krishna is leaving for Washington tonight to hold discussions with US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to further expand and diversify the partnership between the two countries. <br/> <br/>A high level delegation including the Human resource Development Minister Kapil Sibal, Minister of State for Science and Technology Prithvi Raj Chavan and Deputy Chairman of Planning Commission Montek Singh Ahulwalia will join Mr Krishna in the first Indo -US strategic dialogue. <br/> <br/>Cooperation in counter terrorism and the situation in Afghanistan and Pakistan will figure prominently in the discussions. <br/> <br/>Knowledge initiative will also be high on the table which aims to increase university linkages and junior faculty development exchanges between the two countries. <br/> <br/>Strengthening cooperation in the areas of Defence, Energy, Agriculture, Science and Technology will also the focus of discussions. <br/> <br/>During his stay in Washington, Mr Krishna will deliver a key-note address at US-India Business Council meeting to share India's vision of the bi-lateral strategic partnership. <br/> <br/>AIR correspondent reports that in a rare gesture the US President Barack Obama is attending a reception to be hosted in the honour of Mr Krishna in Washington. <br/> <br/>The tone for the deliberations was set by the Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh's telephonic conversation with the US President Barack Obama early last week .<br/> <br/>At present 18 separate dialogues are going on between New Delhi and Washington and one of them is on nuclear issue with the focus on the passage of civil nuclear liability bill in Parliament.<br/>