New Delhi, March 20
Two days after David Coleman Headley secured a plea bargain, the USA today said India would get access to the terror suspect to investigate his role in the 26/11 Mumbai terror attack, but almost ruled out his extradition to India.

“Yes”, said US Assistant Secretary of State for South Asia Robert Blake when asked by reporters on the sidelines of a function whether Indian investigators would be provided access to interrogate Headley.

“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,” the senior American official added.

Blake, however, hastened to add that it did not mean that at some future date, some additional charges could not be brought against him. He said he would not speculate on the future charges, but at least on the existing charges he could not be extradited.

Headley is accused of doing surveillance of targets in Mumbai as a Lashkar operative. He has since pleaded guilty in a Chicago court to terror charges, including the Mumbai attack.

India is somewhat reconciled to Headley not being extradited to India, but officials say even getting access to him to interrogate him would be a big success. Indian investigators, who recently visited the USA, had failed to get access to him, but assurances by various US officials have rekindled New Delhi’s hope of interrogating him.

On Washington’s approach to Pakistan in dealing with terror outfits operating from that country, Blake said, “We think it is very important for Pakistan to tick off the LeT threat not just because of the security and stability of the USA, but also India and other countries. So, this will be something I will be discussing on my trip to Pakistan.” Blake will also be visiting Pakistan and Afghanistan during his ongoing visit to the region.

Asked if the USA would bring pressure on Pakistan to act against terror groups operating from its soil, Blake noted that Pakistan had always said it would not allow terrorists to operate from its soil and the USA and its friends expected Islamabad to abide by that “very important” commitment.

On the concerns over US arms supply to Pakistan being directed against India, he said Washington was aware of New Delhi’s concerns and a dialogue had going on between the two governments in that regard.

The plea bargain says…

…he will fully and truthfully testify to any foreign judicial proceedings held in the US, either through deposition, video conferencing or through Letters Rogatory.

Chidambaram says…

It is my understanding that India would be able to obtain access to Headley to question him in a properly constituted judicial proceeding

US Attorney General says…

Headley has agreed 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