Manmohan Singh to meet Obama today

Ahead of Monday's Nuclear Security Summit, the Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, will meet US President Barack Obama, at Blair House in Washington tonight.

During their meeting, Singh is expected to review bilateral ties and share views key on regional and global issues.

Officials said they would include the situations in Afghanistan, the progress made in the Pakistan, 26/11 investigation, nuclear terrorism and civil nuclear energy issues. Singh and Obama would also discuss the Afpak policy, they added.

The Nuclear Security Summit will be attended by leaders of 47 nations, Singh is expected to pitch for firm response to the challenges of proliferation and the possibility of terrorists gaining access to atomic material.

The aims of the summit are to come to a common understanding of the threat posed by nuclear terrorism, to agree to effective measures to secure nuclear material and to prevent nuclear smuggling and terrorism.

Ahead of his visit, Singh expressed hope that the summit would focus on nuclear terrorism and the security of sensitive nuclear materials and technologies as these are legitimate concerns which require firm responses.

"India has a well developed indigenous nuclear energy programme, which dates back six decades. We have an impeccable record of security, safety and non-proliferation which reflects our conduct as a responsible nuclear power," he said.

"India has been a consistent advocate of complete and universal global nuclear disarmament," he added.

Besides President Obama, Singh would also hold bilateral meetings with Brazil President Lula da Silva, President Nazarbayev of Kazakhstan, President Sarkozy of France, Prime Minister Harper of Canada, President Hu Jintao of China and President Dmitry Medvedev of Russia.