Washington: The US, which foiled a major terror plot by LeT to target India, has said it would be forthcoming with details of the case but cited legal limitations in allowing Indian investigators to quiz the two arrested operatives, David Coleman Headley and Tahawwur Rana.
US National Security Adviser James Jones said President
Barack Obama has shown personal interest in the Headley-Rana
case and the matter was discussed during his meeting with
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Tuesday last.
"It is something that the President and the Prime
Minister discussed and both of them were very satisfied with
the outcome of those discussions," Jones said in an
interview here when asked about the terror plot foiled by FBI
last month by arresting Headley, a Pakistani-origin American
national, and Rana, a Pakistan-born Canadian citizen.
He said Obama has given instructions to US authorities to
share the information with India regarding Headley-Rana case,
despite the limitation posed by the country's legal system.
"At the President's direction we have been very
forthcoming with our Indian counterparts on sharing whatever
information we have which might be of some assistance to
(India)," Jones said, adding "as a result of the President's
guidance, we are doing as much as we can legally, without
jeopardising the process of the case."
He, however, said the US was unable to allow Indian
investigators access to the arrested LeT operatives because
certain aspects of the legal system here protect the rights of
the accused.
"There are certain aspects of our legal system that
protect the right of the accused. In our system, those rights
are protected," Jones said, adding the US was in "the process
of explaining (to India) what we can and can't do."
A team on Indian investigators was recently in the US to
question the two individuals arrested by the FBI so that they
can further their own investigations. However, they returned
without gaining access to either of the arrested accused.
At the same time, Jones said, "We have shared (details
with India), we are cooperating fully."
He, however, refused to give any details about assistance
extended by the US to India in the case, even as he described
it as a "good example" of cooperation.
"The Headley case is in a judicial process right now. I
do not want to say anything that in any way might jeopardise
it," the US National Security Adviser said.
"There is quite a bit to go on this particular case. But
let me say that that case is a good example of a cooperation
that started here," Jones said.
After foiling the plot, the US investigators are
understood to have given details of the interrogation of the
duo and leads that are being followed up by Indian
investigators.
On the basis of the leads, Indian investigators have
unearthed a number of links of Headley and Rana, like the
number of times they visited India, the places they visited
and the persons they came in contact with.
When insisted as to why the Indian investigators were not
allowed to question Headley and Rana, Jones said: "I have
given you the answer that I can give you. We will continue to
be as helpful as we can be."
He said he believed that Prime Minister Singh was "very
satisfied" with the US President's discussion on this.
"We are going to do everything we can within our
capabilities and respecting the legal boundaries that effect
people in the United States and people in India," Jones said.
PTI
First Published: Saturday, November 28, 2009, 23:11