The Hindu : Front Page : 26/11: ‘U.S. gave only general information'

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Saturday, Oct 23, 2010
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26/11: ‘U.S. gave only general information'

Special Correspondent

Nirupama Rao

NEW DELHI: India had received “very general, non-specific information'' on warnings and threats from the U.S. before the November 26, 2008 attacks in Mumbai, Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao told reporters on Friday.

“In the last few months, once the Headley case surfaced, we have had interactions and exchanges with the American authorities into the investigations,” she said.

Ms. Rao was asked whether the U.S. withheld information from double agent David Headley's wives about his involvement with Pakistan-based militant groups and his frequent visits to the U.S., which later turned out to be reconnaissance missions of targets planned to be attacked by the Lashkar-e-Taiba.

On Wednesday, External Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna had maintained that the information received from the U.S. about the Mumbai attacks was “not very specific.''

Asked at a news conference whether the U.S. provided specific information on the basis of leads given by Headley's wives, he said “some general and non specific information'' was received from the U.S. government about the attacks.

The observations by Mr. Krishna and Ms. Rao were against the backdrop of senior U.S. officials, including Assistant Secretary of State Robert Blake, claiming that Washington had passed on information about Headley's activities to New Delhi.

Asked about the Enforcement Directorate's (ED) request to cancel the passport of the former Indian Premier League chief, Lalit Modi, who is abroad, she said no response was received till date to a notice issued to him. “If there is no further response from Mr. Modi, action will be initiated.'

The Ministry of External Affairs received a request from the ED on October 5 to revoke Mr. Modi's passport in public interest as his financial dealings needed to be thoroughly investigated.

The Ministry issued a show cause on October 13, asking him why action should not be initiated under the relevant sections of the Passport Act.

“As per the provisions of the Act, he will have 15 days to represent his case. On October 15, the Ministry was provided with his alternate address in Mumbai and the show cause served,'' she said.

Sanctions against Cuba

To a question if India would once again oppose U.S. sanctions against Cuba when a vote is taken at the U.N. General Assembly next week for the 19th consecutive year, Ms. Rao pointed out that India consistently took the position that sanctions affected the common man.

On all previous occasions, India had voted against U.S. sanctions against Cuba. Last year, 187 countries voted to lift the sanctions and only three – the U.S., Israel and Marshall Island – had a different opinion, she said.

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