India will get access to Headley soon: FBI

Indian investigators will soon get access to terror suspect David Headley as United States authorities are working out the logistics of where and when they can question the Pakistani-American in connection with the Mumbai terror attacks, an official of the Federal Bureau of Investigation said on Tuesday.

"In the plea agreement, Headley did agree to meet with Indian authorities. I think right now we are just trying to work out the logistics and scheduling of that," said a FBI spokesman.

A request has been made by Indian authorities to question 49-year-old Headley, he said, adding that the interrogation is expected to happen soon. The FBI's involvement in the case is to facilitate the interview that Headley agreed to cooperate with and "I am sure that will happen in the near future," he said.

As to who all would be present along with Headley when he is being interrogated, he said "all that is something that is going to be worked out".

"Headley has retained counsel, that counsel is still representing him and obviously he is a party to all of this. I think that is one of the things that are being worked out with him and his attorney and all the other people who know of this. Who is going to participate in the interview, where is it going to be done, when is it going to be done, lots of questions need to be answered," he said.

India is expected to get access to Headley, a suspected Lashkar-e-Tayiba operative, within 30 days of sending a letter of request, which is being prepared.

US Ambassador Timothy J Roemer told Home Minister P Chidambaram in New Delhi that the issue of access to Headley was being dealt with at the highest level in the Barack Obama administration.

India has been seeking access to Headley, a Pakistani-American, to unravel details of his activities regarding the 26/11 terror attacks and LeT's plans to carry out further strikes in this country.