US on Headley issue: Expect India to live up to responsibility

Lalit K Jha and Himani Kumar
Washington/Chicago, Jul 22 (PTI) With Indian officials
going public with what LeT operative David Headley had told
investigators, the US Thursday said it fully expects "both
countries to live up to their respective responsibilities".
Amid reports that the Obama administration was upset
over Indian officials going into the details provided by
Headley, State Department spokesman P J Crowley said the US
values cooperation with India on combating terrorism but it
places responsibility on both countries.
"We fully expect both countries to live up to their
respective responsibilities," Crowley told reporters at his
daily news conference.
Crowley was responding to a question about an Indian
media report that stated that the US is upset about the
statements coming out from senior Indian officials, revealing
details of information the Mumbai terror suspect provided to
Indian interrogators recently.
At the conclusion of the questioning of Headley by
Indian investigators on June 10, the US Justice Department had
said: "To protect the confidentiality of the investigations
being conducted by both India and the US, both countries have
agreed not to disclose the contents of the interviews".
American officials have reportedly expressed concern
that public discussions on Headley could adversely affect the
case against him in the United States.
"We value the cooperation between India and the United
States on law enforcement and combating terrorism; it's
important. It does place responsibilities on both countries,"
Crowley said.
India's Union Home Secretary G K Pillai had disclosed
last week that Headley had confirmed that Pakistan's ISI was
involved with 26/11 "from beginning to end".
This was followed by India's National Security Advisor
Shivshankar Menon speaking on "the links between the official
establishment and existing intelligence agencies" in Pakistan
as revealed by Headley.
"If anything, it is getting stronger," Menon had said.
Crowley said the US is aware about such statements but
restrained from responding in detail.
"I'm just going to simply say that our cooperation is
significant. It is a vital dimension of our relationship. It's
important for both sides. In this cooperation there are
responsibilities that we both have, and I'll leave it there".
(MORE) PTI LKJ/HK
MRD


The information contained in this electronic message and any attachments to this
message are intended for the exclusive use of the addressee(s) and may contain
proprietary, confidential or privileged information. If you are not the intended
recipient, you should not disseminate, distribute or copy this e-mail. Please notify
the sender immediately and destroy all copies of this message and any attachments
contained in it.