Zeenews Bureau
New Delhi: In a major breakthrough for New Delhi, the United States has agreed to allow Indian investigators to interrogate David Headley, possibly in a pre-trial stage, for his role in the Mumbai terror attacks.
Home Minister P Chidambaram made this announcement after a telephonic conversation with US Attorney General Eric Holder on the issue on Friday evening.
"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 a judicial proceeding could be either pre-trial or during an inquiry or trial. It is also my understanding that Headley is obliged to cooperate fully and truthfully in such proceedings," the Home Minister said in a statement.
Chidambaram has also directed the National Investigation Agency (NIA) and other agencies to prepare questions for Headley.
NIA had registered a case on November 11, 2009 against Headley and his Pakistani-Canadian Tahawwur Hussain Rana.
He said there was another aspect of the "plea agreement" which was of enormous significance as it "is the most damning indictment of the role played by certain persons in Pakistan".
He said Pakistan was in a state of denial for many months after the attacks of 26/11. Thereafter, grudgingly and bowing to the pressure applied by India through the dossiers and otherwise, Pakistan initiated proceedings against a few of the persons involved in the conspiracy, even while key conspirators are still at large.
"The plea agreement should spur Pakistan to take action against all the conspirators and bring them to justice. Nothing short of that will be acceptable to India or will satisfy world opinion," Chidambaram said.
In his plea agreement, Headley has admitted to conspiring with LeT members. He has admitted to meeting with and receiving instructions from them. He has further admitted to attending training camps organised by the LeT on five separate occasions; he has admitted to meeting in Pakistan with various co-conspirators including but not limited to LeT members; and he has admitted to being privy to the attacks planned in
Mumbai and the despatch of a team of attackers by sea, the
statement said.
Meanwhile, the US’ stand has been confirmed by US Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia Robert Blake as well.
"With respect to the Headley case, the plea bargain agreement was announced and part of that agreement was that the US would not extradite Headley either to India or Pakistan or Denmark for the charges for which he has now admitted guilt," US Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia Robert O Blake told reporters here.
Blake, who is on a visit to Afghanistan and India, has also said that Indian investigators will be allowed to interrogate Headley.
The US official, however, left the option open of extraditing Headley if India comes up with cases other than his role in the 26/11 mayhem that left 166 Indians and foreigners dead.
"That does not mean that at some future date, some additional charges could not be brought. I do not want to speculate much on the future charges, but at least on these charges he cannot be extradited," Blake said.
Headley on Thursday had pleaded guilty to a dozen federal terrorism charges in a Chicago court and admitted his role in planning the 2008 Mumbai terror attack.
With Inputs from Agencies
First Published: Sunday, March 21, 2010, 10:46