New Delhi:
Will India get to question David Coleman Headley, the American citizen who played a key role in 26/11?
US Ambassador to India Timothy Roemer said in a statement on Tuesday, "As the Assistant Secretary indicated, the US is committed to full information sharing in our counter terror partnership and in fact in this case we have provided substantial information to the Government of India and we will continue to do so. However, no decision on direct access for India to David Headley has been made. The US Department of Justice will work with the Government of India regarding the modalities of such cooperation."
On Thursday last week, Headley pleaded guilty to all 12 charges against him in a Chicago court. Half of these accuse him of planning terror attacks in India, and in particular, 26/11, for terrorist group Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT). In return, Headley was guaranteed that he would not be extradited to India, or face the death penalty. (Read: Headley pleads guilty to all 12 charges, escapes extradition, death)
However, US officials guaranteed that his plea bargain makes it necessary for him to testify in India's proceedings on 26/11. Home Minister P Chidambaram had expressed his reservations about whether this meant that Indian intelligence officials would be able to put questions directly to Headley.
Over the weekend, US Attorney General Eric Holder phoned Chidambaram to assure him that India would be able to question Headley directly. Holder pointed out that the plea bargain states, "Defendant agrees that, when directed by the United States Attorney's Office, he will fully and truthfully participate in any debriefings for the purpose of gathering intelligence or national security information.Defendant further agrees that, when directed by the United States Attorney's Office, he will fully and truthfully testify in any foreign judicial proceedings held in the United States by way of deposition, video conferencing or letters rogatory. Defendant agrees to the postponement of his sentencing until after the conclusion of his cooperation."
Chidambaram commented after the phone call, "It is my understanding that India would be able to obtain access to David Coleman Headley to question him in a properly constituted judicial proceeding. Such judicial proceeding could be either pre-trial or during an inquiry or trial." (Read: Headley deal not a setback for India says Chidambaram)
On Monday, sources told NDTV that the US Department of Justice had asked India to keep a team on standby that would have access to Headley. (Read: US asks India to be ready with team to question Headley)
US Ambassador to India Timothy Roemer said in a statement on Tuesday, "As the Assistant Secretary indicated, the US is committed to full information sharing in our counter terror partnership and in fact in this case we have provided substantial information to the Government of India and we will continue to do so. However, no decision on direct access for India to David Headley has been made. The US Department of Justice will work with the Government of India regarding the modalities of such cooperation."
On Thursday last week, Headley pleaded guilty to all 12 charges against him in a Chicago court. Half of these accuse him of planning terror attacks in India, and in particular, 26/11, for terrorist group Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT). In return, Headley was guaranteed that he would not be extradited to India, or face the death penalty. (Read: Headley pleads guilty to all 12 charges, escapes extradition, death)
However, US officials guaranteed that his plea bargain makes it necessary for him to testify in India's proceedings on 26/11. Home Minister P Chidambaram had expressed his reservations about whether this meant that Indian intelligence officials would be able to put questions directly to Headley.
Over the weekend, US Attorney General Eric Holder phoned Chidambaram to assure him that India would be able to question Headley directly. Holder pointed out that the plea bargain states, "Defendant agrees that, when directed by the United States Attorney's Office, he will fully and truthfully participate in any debriefings for the purpose of gathering intelligence or national security information.Defendant further agrees that, when directed by the United States Attorney's Office, he will fully and truthfully testify in any foreign judicial proceedings held in the United States by way of deposition, video conferencing or letters rogatory. Defendant agrees to the postponement of his sentencing until after the conclusion of his cooperation."
Chidambaram commented after the phone call, "It is my understanding that India would be able to obtain access to David Coleman Headley to question him in a properly constituted judicial proceeding. Such judicial proceeding could be either pre-trial or during an inquiry or trial." (Read: Headley deal not a setback for India says Chidambaram)
On Monday, sources told NDTV that the US Department of Justice had asked India to keep a team on standby that would have access to Headley. (Read: US asks India to be ready with team to question Headley)
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