Singh, Obama to discuss coop in fight against terror

Ajay Kaul
Tokyo, Oct 24 (PTI) With the David Headley case as a
backdrop, India's Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and US
President Barack Obama are expected to discuss ways to step up
cooperation in fight against terror, with the specific focus
on preventing further attacks like 26/11.
The case relating to Pakistani-American Headley, a
Lashkar-e-Taiba operative who admitted his involvement in the
Mumbai attacks, has been marked by active cooperation with the
US sharing with India details regarding his activities that
came to light after his arrest in October last year.
Sources said Singh and Obama will not discuss the
specific case of Headley as there has already been
"unprecedented" cooperation on it. They are, however, expected
to discuss cooperation in fight against terrorism and ways to
prevent attacks.
Recent media reports have suggested that the US had
known about Headley's plans to target Mumbai prior to 26/11
but this information was not passed on to India.
The US says it had given the information but India
says it was general and not specific.
The issue of export control regime with regard to
dual-use technology by the US is also expected to figure in
the talks between Singh and Obama in New Delhi on November 8.
India wants all restrictions on dual-use items to be
lifted and the US has promised to look into it.
"There is equal enthusiasm on both sides. A lot of
progress has been made with regard to re-categorisation of
such items with an eye on the Obama visit," a source said.
The progress is expected to be reflected in the Joint
Statement that will be issued after the meeting.PTI