"We may need to improve our diplomatic efforts in Pakistan. We may need to bring a more regional diplomatic approach to bear. We may need to coordinate more effectively with our allies," Obama told the CBS news in an interview, giving an inkling of what his new policy would look like.

Obama said his main goal of the new policy would be to make sure that Afghanistan is not used as a ground to plan and launch another attack on the United States or its allies.

"That's our number one priority. And in service of that priority, there may be a whole host of things that we need to do," Obama said. "We may need to build up economic capacity in Afghanistan," he said.

"But we can't lose sight of what our central mission is, the same mission that we had when we went in after 9/11. And that is these folks can project violence against the United States' citizens. And that is something that we cannot tolerate," Obama asserted.

"But what we can't do is think that just a military approach in Afghanistan is going to be able to solve our problems," he said.

As a result, his administration is looking at a comprehensive strategy for the region. "And there's got to be an exit strategy. There's got to be a sense that this is not perpetual drift," Obama said.

Responding to a question, Obama said he is well aware that Afghanistan has been a graveyard of foreign powers including the British and the Russians.