Richard Holbrooke, 69, U.S. President Barack Obama's special envoy to Afghanistan and Pakistan, died on Monday while undergoing a surgery for a torn aorta.

In his typical diplomatic wish, the last words he spoke to his doctor were: You've got to stop this war in Afghanistan.

He was rushed to the hospital for an emergency operation lasting for 21 hours to correct a torn aorta, which carries oxygenated blood from the heart.

Holbrooke rose to fame while brokering the Dayton Peace agreement in 1995 that ended the Bosnian war.

From his early days in Vietnam to his assignment bringing peace to the Balkans to his last mission in Afghanistan and Pakistan, Richard helped shape our history, manage our perilous present, and secure our future. He was the consummate diplomat, able to stare down dictators and stand up for America's interests and values even under the most difficult circumstances, said Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.

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