New Delhi, Oct 15 : US Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs s in India to meet ministers and senior bureaucrats ahead of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's trip to Washington next month.

Burns, who arrived here Wednesday night, met Human Resources Development Minister Kapil Sibal Thursday morning. He is scheduled to meet External Affairs Minister S. M. Krishna, along with Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao.

He will also meet National Security Advisor M. K. Narayanan Friday.

Burn's visit is being described as preparatory for the prime minister's trip, which is the first state visit by a foreign head of government to the US after President Barack Obama took over in January.

Burns is also expected to discuss the situation in Pakistan and Afghanistan, especially India's disappointment over Pakistani inaction against Jamaat-ud-Dawa chief Hafiz Saeed.(IANS)