Can't rule out foreign involvement in Pune: Home Secretary

The government today said it cannot rule out the possibility of involvement of foreign hand in the Pune blast, including a David Headley link, even as it disclosed that an ISI-sponsored 'Karachi Project' was on to doctrinate Indian youth into terror.

The government on Monday said it cannot rule out the possibility of involvement of foreign hand in the Pune blast, including a David Headley link, even as it disclosed that an ISI-sponsored 'Karachi Project' was on to doctrinate Indian youth into terror.

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India is planning to seek access to Headley, a US national of Pakistani origin now in American custody, by even moving the US court.

Home Secretary Gopal K Pillai said there is definitely a Headley link (to Pune blast) since it was very close to Osho Ashram which he had receed. It was difficult to believe there was no link with the Headley videos.

He said Headley had spoken of an ISI-sponsored 'Karachi Project' to take away Indian youth to Pakistan and indoctrinate them to carry out terror attacks in India.

However, he said the investigations in the Pune case are in "very preliminary stages" and it would be too early to comment. It is well known that organisations like Indian Mujahideen have handlers across the border, Pillai added.

"We cannot rule out or rule in the possibility of the involvement of foreign hands in Pune blast," Pillai told reporters adding as to who did it and how they did it will take some time.

He said the investigators were on their job and government needed some time before it can break the case.