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U.S. officials say Defense Secretary Leon Panetta will encourage India to take a more active role in Afghanistan, as he meets with officials to discuss regional security and defense relations.

Panetta arrived Tuesday in New Delhi for two days of talks. He is scheduled to meet with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, National Security Adviser Shivshankar Menon and Defense Minister A.K. Antony.

Officials told reporters traveling with Panetta there is a risk that rivals India and Pakistan could see their roles in the region “as being in conflict,” but that the two countries share the goal of peace in Afghanistan.

The Pentagon says the talks will also include “Asia re-balancing.” Panetta told a security forum in Singapore Saturday the U.S. Navy would shift the majority of its ships to the Pacific by 2020 as part of a strategic focus on Asia.

The defense chief's visit to India — his first since taking the post last year — follows a stop in India last month by U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.