Union home minister P Chidambaram’s US visit this weekend has evoked considerable interest as he is expected to study the homeland security model followed there.
There are reports that the Centre is planning to set up a security apparatus on the lines of the US homeland security department. National security advisor MK Narayanan had also studied the department’s functioning during his last visit to Washington.
Though not much is known about the government’s plan on this front, it is likely that internal security would get more importance in the days to come. The setting up of a National Investigating Agency and the appointment of a senior official, KC Verma, as advisor internal security to the home minister were two significant steps in this direction.
Another significant point on Chidambaram’s agenda would be to acquire modern equipment and gadgets used by US agencies to tackle terror-related cases. In fact, this is one of the key areas in which some US investigating agencies, including the FBI, have been collaborating with their Indian counterparts. “There are some gadgets which the US agencies have and we don’t,” Chidambaram had said.
Chidambaram is likely to share details about the role played by Pakistan-trained terrorists in the Mumbai attack. The dossier prepared by the home ministry contains details about the role of “non-state” actors operating from Pakistan and possible complicity of some official agencies of that country.
