The State Department has announced that it will send a top diplomat to India next week to firm up the agenda for President Barack Obama's second visit in the last four years.
"Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs Nisha Biswal will travel to New Delhi, India, for internal consultations and bilateral meetings," the State Department said in a statement.
The State Department's decision came after White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest announced that, "At the invitation of Prime Minister (Narendra) Modi, the President will travel to India in January 2015 to participate in the Indian Republic Day celebration in New Delhi as the Chief Guest."
During her travel from November 23 to December 5, Biswal would also be travelling to Kathmandu to represent the US as an observer state at the 18th annual South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) Summit, which would be attended by heads of States of all the SAARC countries, including Prime Minister Modi.
"The summit will focus on deepening regional economic connectivity and expanding South Asia's role in the global economy.
While in Kathmandu, she will meet with Nepali political leaders, civil society activists and business leaders," the State Department said.
Following Nepal, Biswal will travel to Dhaka, Bangladesh, to participate in meetings with Bangladeshi government officials, civil society and labour group leaders and members of the business community.