Access to Headley: Indian Solicitor General holds discussions with US officials
New Delhi:Indian Solicitor General, Gopal Subramanium along with Indian Ambassador to the United States, Meera Shankar has met with the United States Attorney General Eric Holder and held discussions on getting direct access to Lashkar operative David Headley. The discussion took place on
Tuesday evening. Apart from Holder, representatives of the US Department of Justice
were also present during discussions. According to Union Home Ministry, both India
and US agreed to take suitable steps to bring about direct access by Indian authorities
to David Headley as soon as possible. The discussions have resulted in a mutual
commitment that there would be the best possible cooperation in our common fight
against terrorism, Home Ministry said. The partnership between India and the United
States recognizes the high priority to be accorded to each country's national
security. Home Ministry said that both countries have recognized the need for
the investigations to reach a fruitful and successful outcome. Earlier, the U.S.
had stated that it was just a "matter of working out modalities" before Indian
investigators get access to Headley. Interacting with Indian journalists at Thimphu,
U.S. Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs Robert Blake hinted
that negotiations are on in this regard. "Negotiations are on but I don't think
there is any political problem at all. We are working at the very highest levels,
for example between our Attorney General and your Home Minister (P. Chidambaram),
so this is just a matter of working out modalities," Blake said. "This is not
just government to government thing. Headley's lawyers are involved in it, so
we have to have his agreement," Blake added.
