US helping,no comment on Headley’s status: Govt

“The investigations are under way,and I want to emphasise that we have got very good cooperation from the US,and our agencies concerned are in touch with them.”

Stressing on the close cooperation between Indian and FBI investigators,she said,“so far,we have got access to documents and information from the FBI.”

Asked if India would want access to Headley and his associate Tahawwur Rana,Rao said: “At some stage,we would like to have access to them.”

To a question on visa papers missing from the Indian consulate in Chicago,Rao said: “I am aware of these reports… I want to tell you that I have sought a factual report from our consulate in Chicago in this regard.”

Headley and Rana,arrested by FBI for plotting terror attacks in India,were issued multi-entry visas by the Indian mission in Chicago. Headley got a five-year multi-entry business visa (No. Z314473) on July 18,2007; Rana got a one-year business visa (No. AF232384),valid up to March 3,2011.

Rana’s wife,Samraz Akhtar Rana,was granted a five-year tourist visa valid up to August 2012. The MEA has cancelled all three visas.

Earlier in the day,External Affairs Minister S M Krishna said New Delhi was awaiting more information on Headley. “The investigations are on and we are looking forward to getting some information with reference to this from US intelligence agencies. We will wait for that,” Krishna told reporters outside Parliament House.

Sources in the Home Ministry said the government was going to ask the US government to clarify on reports that Headley,who is in FBI custody,was an agent for the Drug Enforcement Administration and at the same time worked with a Pakistan-based terror organisation.

“We are going to wait for the response of the US government before deciding anything,” said a senior Home Ministry officer.

Growing Indo-US cooperation on counter-terrorism notwithstanding,Indian agencies have been wondering if the US has shared all it has on Headley and Rana. The US is,on the other hand,learnt to be peeved that classified information gets out in the public domain within days of it being passed to the Indian side.

It is understood that access to Headley for Indian agencies will be considered after some mandatory legal steps related to the indictment process are over. The impression in Delhi is that this could take another 4-6 weeks. There is,however,no official commitment on this from Washington.

What is also rankling the Indian side is the fact that it was not taken into confidence during the year-long probe,and was informed only after Headley and Rana were arrested. Regardless of these doubts and concerns,however,Home Ministry sources said,India would work closely with the US to complete the legal process.