Too premature to comment on extradition of Headley: US

Lalit K Jha
Washington, Dec 11 (PTI) It is "too premature" to talk
about the extradition of US national David Coleman Headly to
India for his alleged role in Mumbai terror attacks, a top
Obama Administration official has said.
Assistant Secretary of State for Public Affairs, P J
Crowley was responding to a question about the statement by
Indian Home Secretary G K Pillai in the Indian national
capital New Delhi that India would seek extradition of
Headley, who was arrested by the Federal Bureau of
Investigation (FBI) in October on charges of plotting
terrorist attacks in Denmark and India.
"Obviously, we do have an extradition treaty with
India, but how that will work going forward, I think that’s
premature," Crowley, told reporters at a news briefing.
Early this week, FBI formally charge sheeted Headley
for being allegedly involved in the Mumbai (India's commercial
hub) terrorist attack.
"The FBI and Justice Department continue to share
information with our foreign and domestic law enforcement
partners in the Headley investigation," Dean Boys, spokesman,
National Security Division of the US Department of Justice
told PTI.
"As a matter of long-standing policy, we never
comment on extradition matters. Headley remains charged in
federal court in Chicago and the investigation continues."
In New Delhi, Indian Home Secretary Pillai, told
reporters that once India completes its probe into Headley's
links with the Mumbai terror attacks, the government will seek
his extradition.
Last year, Mumbai was attacked by terrorists killing
more than 170 people including foreigners.
"Once we file the charge sheet, we will definitely be
seeking access for both interrogation and at a subsequent
stage, definitely his extradition," he said.
Headley, 49, is now in a Chicago jail, had pledged
not guilty before a Chicago court early this week.
He was arrested in October this year along with
Tahawwur Hussain Rana, 48, a Canadian citizen of Pakistani
origin, by FBI in Chicago on charges of plotting terror
attacks in India at the behest of Lashkar-e-Taiba. PTI LKJ
ANU