US working to allow access to Headley: Ambassador

The United States today said it is working on the issue of allowing Indian investigating agencies direct access to Pakistani-American terror suspect David Coleman Headley.

"On the issue of giving access to Headley, the US government is working at the highest level. We recognise the importance and sensitivity of the issue," US ambassador to India Timothy J Roemer, who is on a two-day tour to the stae, told reporters here.

The US and the Indian governments were working in tandem day and night to counter terrorism, he said adding, "during the last eight months since I have been the ambassador, there has been intelligence sharing leading to lives being saved." 

Describing the cooperation between the US and India as unprecedented and historic, he said that the relation between
the two countries would continue to grow even better.

The US envoy also said Headley and other terrorists would be brought to justice. "India and USA have a common objective, that is to fight against terrorism," Roemer said and identified militant group Lashker-e-Toiba as a "common enemy".

He also praised India for "respecting human values".

US had last month assured India that it can interrogate Headley, who has been indicted by a Chicago court on 12 counts including the conspiracy behind the 26/11 attacks in Mumbai.