Chicago:
Pakistani-American terrorist David Coleman Headley, who has confessed to plotting Mumbai attacks, will cooperate with Indian authorities as required under the terms of his plea agreement if the US government allows, his lawyer has said. (Read: Headley pleads guilty to all 12 charges, escapes extradition, death)
John Theis said 49-year-old Headley's terms of the plea agreement on March 18 requires that he allows himself to be interviewed by Indian authorities. (Watch: India confident of access to Headley)
"Headley will cooperate to the extent it is required to by the terms of his plea agreement but as for the specifics. I think really our government and our US attorney's office have to be the ones to determine the actual form (of access)," he told PTI when asked to comment about US Ambassador Timothy J Roemer's statement that no decision on direct access for India to David Headley has been made. (Read: US asks India to be ready with team to question Headley)
Headley moved a guilty plea at a US court on March 18 where he confessed to plotting the 2008 Mumbai attacks that killed 166 people, including six Americans.
"He is in US custody and so interviewing him does implicate the security issues and things like that," Theis said.
When asked if Indian investigators, who come to the US, can be assured that they would get access to Headley and be able to put their questions to him, Theis said: "I'm not the one to ask that. You will have to ask our government, our US attorney's office. They are the ones who are going to determine how this actually happens".
Meanwhile, an FBI spokesperson told PTI: "If the plea agreement says that Headley has agreed to meet with investigators from India, then that is what he will do. It is a question of when and where. But I'm sure if that is what he agreed to, that is what will happen".
John Theis said 49-year-old Headley's terms of the plea agreement on March 18 requires that he allows himself to be interviewed by Indian authorities. (Watch: India confident of access to Headley)
"Headley will cooperate to the extent it is required to by the terms of his plea agreement but as for the specifics. I think really our government and our US attorney's office have to be the ones to determine the actual form (of access)," he told PTI when asked to comment about US Ambassador Timothy J Roemer's statement that no decision on direct access for India to David Headley has been made. (Read: US asks India to be ready with team to question Headley)
Headley moved a guilty plea at a US court on March 18 where he confessed to plotting the 2008 Mumbai attacks that killed 166 people, including six Americans.
"He is in US custody and so interviewing him does implicate the security issues and things like that," Theis said.
When asked if Indian investigators, who come to the US, can be assured that they would get access to Headley and be able to put their questions to him, Theis said: "I'm not the one to ask that. You will have to ask our government, our US attorney's office. They are the ones who are going to determine how this actually happens".
Meanwhile, an FBI spokesperson told PTI: "If the plea agreement says that Headley has agreed to meet with investigators from India, then that is what he will do. It is a question of when and where. But I'm sure if that is what he agreed to, that is what will happen".
