NEW DELHI, 5 November — During his tri-nation tour, spread over nine days, Indian Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee would discuss global terrorism and post-Taleban Afghanistan in talks during his visits to Russia, the United States and Britain, sources said.

"In my discussions in all three countries, I will place particular emphasis on issues relating to international terrorism and the urgent need to address the challenges of post-conflict Afghanistan," Vajpayee said in a statement before beginning his trip.

India, which accuses Pakistan of sponsoring terrorism in the Indian-administered part of Kashmir, is keen to ensure that Islamabad — Washington’s front-line ally in the US-led war against Afghanistan — is not allowed to dictate the makeup of a new government in Kabul. Vajpayee will hold talks in Moscow with President Vladimir Putin during his Nov. 4 to 7 trip to Russia, India’s friend during the Cold War era.

The two leaders would also sign a Moscow Declaration on International Terrorism. He will then head to Washington for his first meeting with President George W. Bush on Nov. 9 before attending the UN General Assembly session in New York. Vajpayee said he hoped to discuss with Bush the consolidation of the many positive trends in bilateral ties over recent years.

He said though India had differences with the United States during the cold war, the climate was now "clear and conducive." "We are together in fighting global terrorism," he said. Indian Foreign Secretary Chokila Iyer told a news conference last week that India would press for a strong UN role in any solution to Afghanistan after the defeat of the Taleban. On his way back, Vajpayee will stop in London on Nov. 12 and 13 to meet Prime Minister Tony Blair.

Analysts said Vajpayee is expected to come under heavy pressure to ensure that escalating tensions with Pakistan over Kashmir do not erupt into a conflict that may jeopardize the military campaign to oust the Taleban regime in Afghanistan. The nuclear foes have twice gone to war over the territory. Last month, Bush appealed to both countries to "stand down" while the war against the Taleban was under way.

But Vajpayee and Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf have traded tough words of late, each vowing to repulse any military action by the other. Vajpayee has said he is unlikely to meet Musharraf when the two attend the UN session in New York. As the much-delayed SAARC summit will be held in Katmandu from Jan. 4, Vajpayee-Musharraf meeting is likely to be held then.