P Chidambaram is expected to make his first trip to the US next week in his current capacity. His visit will almost dovetail into Barack Obama's inauguration on January 20.

The details of the visit were finalized between Chidambaram and US ambassador David Mulford on Saturday. Chidambaram's visit comes as India takes its first steps to set up a more robust intelligence and homeland security setup. The US has agreed to share its experiences in the wake of 9/11 which saw them setting up their systems.

Chidambaram's trip to US also comes after a quiet visit by the US' director of national intelligence Mike McConnell. Chidambaram is expected to meet US secretary of department of homeland security Michael Chertoff and US secretary of state Condoleezza Rice.

The US' top investigating agency, FBI, has shared quite a bit of its own findings with the Indian government. FBI was granted unprecedented access to all the evidence and intelligence collected by the Indians as well as interviewing Kasab. A lot of their findings will make it to the dossier.

The expected diplomatic gains from the move are still unclear particularly as it is becoming clear that countries like the US, China and Saudi Arabia -- the three that have any influence on Pakistan -- may not be willing to add that extra heft against Pakistan, loath to pressure a fragile civilian government. US also has to worry about Pakistan seizing upon an intervention of it for India to formally pull out of the fight against Taliban.

In his remarks on Saturday, the PM again said, "The growing menace of terrorism and naxalism is a cause of worry. The government will not compromise with terrorism...There were some initial setbacks, but we will overcome them. The government will go to any extent to root out terrorism from the country."