Prime Minister Manmohan Singh arrived in Washington on Sunday morning on a four-day visit to attend the Nuclear Security Summit on April 12-13.
At the Nuclear Summit to be attended by leaders of 46 other countries also, Singh is expected to pitch for firm response to the challenges of proliferation and possibility of terrorists gaining access to atomic material.
The Summit will discuss ways to strengthen global initiatives for securing nuclear material and installations amid concerns of terrorists gaining access to these.
Singh is expected to share India's apprehensions about terrorists acquiring weapons of mass destruction
During the official-level deliberations, India will raise concerns about the possibility of terrorists gaining access to nuclear material in Pakistan.
The summit, an initiative of Obama, will focus on dangers posed by clandestine proliferation and illicit trafficking of nuclear material and the possibility of terrorists acquiring atomic material.
Ahead of the meeting between Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and President Barack Obama during which Afghanistan will figure, sources said India's policy on Afghanistan will be determined by its own interests and not by what others do.
Amid talk of the US looking for a strategy to exit Afghanistan, India on Saturday made it clear that it would continue to play a role in the war-torn nation "with or without America" as it has crucial stakes in the stability of country on its periphery.
"We will play a role in Afghanistan with or without the US because Afghanistan is in our immediate periphery and we will do all to protect our periphery," sources said.
The sources noted that India and the US had common goals in Afghanistan that the country should be stable, peaceful and there should be no outside interference. But the question was about reaching there, they said while emphasising the need for coordination.
The comments came in the backdrop of a talk that the US was planning to leave Afghanistan for which it was looking for a strategy.
At one time, the US had talked about handing over the security of Afghanistan to regional countries like Pakistan, Iran and others. This, however, could not happen because of the US' own problems with Iran and internal situation in Kyrghzstan.
Indian government believes that Pakistan would not be entrusted with any prominent role in the affairs of Afghanistan even though "some parts" of Pakistan would be used by the US in Afghanistan.
About options that India has in case the US-led forces quit Afghanistan, the sources said India will devise its strategy according to the evolving situation and work with those who matter.
On Pakistan's role in Afghanistan, the sources said it has been saying that it was willing to do more in that country in terms of fighting terrorism. "India will be happy if Pakistan does our job against terrorism," they said.
With regard to the conditions within Afghanistan, the sources said military situation was better than six months ago but politically, the country remains fragmented.
During their meeting, Singh and Obama are expected to discuss Afghanistan in the context of the new strategy on Afghanistan and Pakistan unveiled by the US President a few months back.
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