New Delhi, April 5
US ambassador Timothy J Roemer today met Union Home Minister P Chidambaram and discussed issues relating to access to Headley, who has confessed to plotting the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks.

Emerging from the meeting at Chidambaram’s North Block office, Roemer while referring to Headley said: “This is an issue that has been discussed at the highest levels. I just had a very successful meeting with the Home Minister where we talked about working very closely on counter-terrorism issues.” Headley, suspected to be double agent of an American agency and terror outfit Lashkar-e-Toiba, was arrested in the US late last year.

Less than ten days ago, Roemer had caused a furore when he had issued a statement saying that ‘no decision on direct access to David Headley has been made’. Roemer’s then statement had come just two days after US attorney General Eric Holder telephoned Chidambaram to assure him that India would get the access to Headley. India had ignored Roemer’s statement.

Today, the US envoy appeared to be echoing the Indian sentiment as he recollected his days as a commissioner of 9/11 probe. “We lost 3000 people, we empathised here in Mumbai with Indian people ….. we want to make sure that justice is brought forward to all those involved in that kind of attack”. He further elaborated that it was in interest of both governments to protect people from attacks wherever may they come from. Separately, sources said India has been assured by the US Justice Department that it alone will decide whether India can quiz Headley directly. India will take a week to finalise the official written request for access to Headley. The Home Ministry is confident of getting access within 30 days of that request.

Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao has said yesterday that the Home Ministry and its investigative agencies are in touch with their US counterparts over the access issue. “We are satisfied with the progress these negotiations have made,” she said.