The cooperation between India and Australia in the probe into Bangalore-based doctor Mohammed Haneef's suspected terror links has apparently run into procedural wrangling, with New Delhi seeking a formal request from Canberra.
In the light of the Indian request, Australia on Wednesday favoured establishment of an arrangement for dealing with such issues even as it ruled out any screening of Indians in that country on the basis of religion or community and appreciated the role played by Indian doctors there.
"Yes, I am aware of it," Australian Defence Minister Brendan Nelson told journalists in Delhi when asked to comment on reports that CBI has asked the Australian Federal Police to furnish a formal request before it could investigate into Haneef's case in Delhi.
"I am advised that those issues, respectfully working through processes of Australian and Indian governments, are being negotiated and worked through," he added.
Indian authorities conveyed the request when an AFP agent arrived in Delhi on Tuesday for probe into the involvement of Haneef in the failed terror attack in London and Glasgow.
Nelson said that in view of Haneef issue, "which none of us expected", the two countries need to "develop some sort of mutual arrangement which will allow us to expedite deliberation on investigation in this sort of issue in the future."
Refusing to go into merits or otherwise of Haneef's case or specify details of investigation, he underlined that the doctor from Bangalore is "presumed innocent until proved otherwise."