Fresh from his discussions with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Af-Pak, US President Barack Obama will on Wednesday hold his monthly meeting on the situation in Afghanistan and Pakistan with top officials and security advisers.
The meeting, first after Obama's return from India where he held detailed discussions with Dr Singh and other officials on the situation in the region, will review the current situation in Afghanistan and Pakistan.
This is also the first meeting after the White House started review of the Af-Pak policy announced by Mr Obama in 2009. During their talks, Mr Obama and Dr Singh agreed on the need for all nations in the region to take steps to ensure that there are no safe havens for terrorists.
The US considers India as an important ally with regard to Afghanistan and Mr Obama acknowledged India's contribution in reconstructing Afghanistan during his address to members of parliament last week.
To be chaired by Mr Obama, the meeting would be attended by secretary of state Hillary Clinton, defence secretary Robert Gates, Pete Rouse, Chief of Staff, national security adviser Tom Donilon, his deputy Denis McDonough, John Brennan, Homeland Security and counterterrorism advisor, Susan Rice, US ambassador to the United Nations, and Leon Panetta, director of the Central Intelligence Agency.
Among other important participants to the meeting include Admiral Michael Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General James Cartwright, vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Richard Holbrooke, special representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan and Doug Lute, Coordinator for Afghanistan and Pakistan.