‘US keen on Headley access to India’

Washington is working overtime to provide India direct access to David Coleman Headley, wanted for plotting of the 26/11 attack in Mumbai, US ambassador to India Timothy Roemer said on Monday.

Washington is working overtime to provide India direct access to David Coleman Headley, wanted for plotting of the 26/11 attack in Mumbai, US ambassador to India Timothy Roemer said on Monday.

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The envoy also said he is positive about the nuclear liability bill being passed in the parliament and said the US is keeping an eye on Pakistan to ensure that the military aid from his country is not misused.

“We want to ensure that justice is delivered to the attackers. Nobody understands the importance of Headley as I do and the US. This is the highest priority (providing direct access),” Roemer told reporters.

Barack Obama too had expressed his willingness to provide access to Headley when Prime Minister Manmohan Singh held a meeting with the US President last Sunday.

When asked about political opposition in India to the nuclear liability bill, Roemer said, “We are optimistic and positive that these issues will be settled for American companies to do business in India.” “We are making good progress,” the envoy said about the implementation of the civil nuclear deal.

In his talks with Manmohan Singh in Washington during the Nuclear Summit last week, US President Barack Obama expressed hope the contentious legislation would be concluded “as expeditiously” as possible. The government had to defer introduction of the Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage Bill in parliament due to opposition from some political parties.

On India’s concerns over the US’s military aid to Pakistan, Roemer said, “...The Congress will keep an eye like a hawk to ensure that weapons sold to Pakistan are used for purpose for which they are meant.