US to consider giving India further access to Headley

From Lalit K Jha
Washington, Jun 11 (PTI) US would consider giving
India further access to David Headley, who has pleaded guilty
in the Mumbai terrorist attacks case, for questioning by its
investigating agencies once New Delhi makes such a request,
the State Department has said.
"We have said in the past we've granted that access
(to Headley) and, you know, obviously there was the trial that
took place, but in the future we would consider providing that
access again," State Department spokesperson Mark Toner told
reporters at his daily news conference here.
Last year, a team of Indian officials had questioned
Headley, a Pakistani-American LeT operative, in Chicago.
Headley has pleaded guilty to 12 terrorism charges,
including his involvement in the November 2008 terrorist
attacks in western Indian city Mumbai that killed more than
160 people.
Headley was also the start witness to the just
concluded trial of Pakistani-Canadian Tahawwur Husain Rana,
who was Friday acquitted by a Chicago court in the Mumbai
terrorist attack case.
Besides, Toner said the trial of Rana in the Chicago
court has sent a clear message that those who help terrorists
would be brought to justice.
"Yesterday's verdict sends a clear message that all
those who help terrorists will be brought to justice, and all
those who seek to facilitate violence abroad, as Rana did,
will be held accountable," Toner said.
He, however, refrained from making any comment on the
acquittal of Rana on charges related to his involvement in the
Mumbai terrorist attacks.
"It was clearly a judicial proceeding. The jury
announced its verdict; I don't have any comment on the verdict
other than to say he is going to jail for 30 years possibly,
and it's an indication that we will hold these people
accountable," Toner said.
Rana, was found guilty by a federal jury that
deliberated two days following a trial that began May 16,
2011, in US District Court of Chicago.
The jury acquitted Rana of conspiracy to provide
material support to the terrorist attacks in Mumbai.
50-year-old Rana, a Canadian citizen, was convicted of
one count of conspiracy to provide material support to the
terrorism plot in Denmark and one count of providing material
support to a designated foreign terrorist organization LeT.
Rana faces a maximum sentence of 30 years in prison on
the two counts combined and remains in federal custody without
bond. No sentencing date was set.