India should respect American legal system's rights to decide what form of access they would like to give to quiz terror suspect David Headley in 26/11 case, former foreign secretary Lalit Mansingh said today.
"Headley and his accomplice (Tahawwur Hussain Rana) have been arrested on American soil. Therefore, whatever decision American courts take (on providing India access to Headley) we have to recognise that and respect it," he told media persons before addressing students of Goa University.
"The procedures have to be followed. It finally depends on the presiding judge to decide what form of access he will give - whether it is letters rogatory, video conferencing or way of deposition," he added.
Mansingh was in Goa to deliver a lecture as part of a series initiated by External Affairs ministry on `India’s Foreign Policy.'
Replying to a question, the veteran diplomat said the Headley matter was not a diplomatic, but a legal issue. "It is completely under the jurisdiction of American legal system."
The former ambassador to the United States said India remains hopeful of getting access to Headley, who has pleaded guilty to plotting 26/11 terror strikes, because his evidence is going to be important for investigations into the Mumbai attacks.
"Ideally, we would like to get him here for interrogation. He is right now under the control of American courts and you know the courts have their own procedures. So whether our wish will be fulfilled or not, I am not sure," Mansingh said.
He said the media was showing a lot of impatience over the Headley issue and had raised questions over the delay in getting access to the Pakistan-origin American.
"I think we should wait till the (US) courts take a decision in this regard," Mansingh suggested.
