A wide range of bilateral and regional issues, including the importance of civil nuclear cooperation, were discussed during the first meeting of Indian Ambassador to the US Nirupama Rao with the Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in Washington. State

Department spokesperson Victoria Nuland told reporters that they also talked about Afghanistan and the important role that India plays in supporting the new Silk Road Initiative, and private sector capacity building in Afghanistan. This was Ms. Rao's first meeting with Clinton after she took over as Indian Ambassador to the US in Washington late last year.

Responding to questions, the spokesperson said the two countries are still working through the legal and regulatory issues that the US has with India. She said, Ms. Clinton and Ms. Rao also talked about Iran and how New Delhi and Washington can work together on the issue of US and EU sanctions against Tehran.