Washington, June 15 (ANI): U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has praised the Pakistani and Indian prime ministers' leadership towards improvement in relations between the two South Asian neighbours.

I applaud the leadership that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani have demonstrated, The Nation quoted Clinton, as saying.

Clinton was speaking at a joint news conference with Indian External Affairs Minister SM Krishna at the end of the Indo-U.S. Strategic Dialogue.

We also discussed the steps that the governments of India and Pakistan are taking to open up avenues for trade, investment, and movement of people, Clinton added.

Krishna and Clinton discussed the vision for enhanced regional connectivity through South and Central Asia and reiterated the importance of taking concrete steps to promote expanded private investment and trade in Afghanistan.

India and the U.S. have also agreed to hold a trilateral dialogue with Afghanistan to support their development efforts in the war-torn country after U.S.-led NATO forces leave in 2014.

We very much appreciate India's commitment to help build a better future for the Afghan people: helping them with more than USD 2 billion for development; supporting the New Silk Road Initiative; hosting the investment conference; providing security, training and support, Clinton said.

Krishna said while India's role has always been a very constructive, Afghanistan falls in its larger neighbourhood, with which it has civilisational, historical and trade connections and cultural ties. During the talks, India also raised the issue of elimination of so-called safe havens in Pakistan.

India also sought more access to David Headley and his accomplice Tahawwur Rana currently in U.S. jail, asking Washington to help bring to justice the perpetrators of the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks. (ANI)