VZCZCXYZ0008
OO RUEHWEB
DE RUEHNE #0367 0570633
ZNY SSSSS ZZH
O 260633Z FEB 10
FM AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 9642
INFO RUEHIL/AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD 6705
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC
RUEAWJA/DEPT OF JUSTICE WASHDC
RHMCSUU/FBI WASHINGTON DC
Friday, 26 February 2010, 06:33
S E C R E T NEW DELHI 000367
SIPDIS
EO 12958 DECL: 10/01/2020
TAGS PREL, PTER, IN, PK
SUBJECT: FBI DIRECTOR MUELLER DISCUSSES HEADLEY CASE WITH
INDIAN HOME MINISTER CHIDAMBARAM
Classified By: Ambassador Tim Roemer. Reason: 1.4 (b,d).
1. (S) Summary: In a February 23 meeting, FBI Director Robert Mueller told Indian Home Affairs Minister P. Chidambaram
that the USG would continue to cooperate with the GOI in providing information on the David Headley case and other cases
involving terrorism directed at India. Chidambaram requested direct access to Headley, even if such access produces no
information, as well as access to Headley’s spouse, who he said was in Chicago. Chidambaram asked whether a GOI official
could monitor Headley’s interrogation and submit questions “in real time.” Chidambaram said he had “a feeling in my
bones that Headley was not acting here alone,” but conceded that he had no evidence to support his supposition that
Headley formed sleeper cells in India, one of which may have been involved in the February 13 Pune bombing. Mueller
assented to Chidambaram’s request for expedited FBI lab assistance regarding forensic cyber and voice recognition
analysis. Chidambaram complained that Pakistan had “done damn near nothing” to prosecute Mumbai terror suspects, and
Mueller said he would press the Pakistanis to take action during an upcoming visit to Islamabad. End Summary.
2. (S) Director Mueller opened the 20-minute meeting by expressing satisfaction over increasingly close bilateral
cooperation. Characterizing the information produced by interrogations of David Headley as among the most important
intelligence the USG has gleaned in the past 6 - 8 months, the Director assured Chidambaram that we would continue to
pass such information in a timely manner to India. Noting that the process of Headley’s proffer of evidence is nearing a
critical stage, Mueller observed that Headley has expressed hatred toward India and may “clam up” if his guilty plea is
tied in any way to cooperation with the GOI.
3. (S) After thanking Mueller for the “outstanding cooperation” displayed by the USG, Chidambaram stated that he
understood from his discussions with Attorney General Holder that the GOI cannot use any information provided by the USG
at this time in Indian prosecutions. He noted, however, that GOI investigators had developed information on their own
through examination of Headley’s computer and emails. Chidambaram insisted that the GOI have access to Headley: “we must
be able to say we had access, even if Headley did not speak.” He also requested access to Headley’s spouse, Shaiza, who
he said is in Chicago so GOI investigators can question her on the meaning of her alleged message to Headley that she
“saw your graduation.” Director Mueller said he would look into both requests. In reply to Chidambaram’s observation
that the “worst outcome would be a light sentence of 2 or 3 years for Headley,” Mueller stated that Headley is looking
at a considerably longer sentence.
4. (S) Chidambaram informed Mueller that the GOI would soon send a number of Letters Rogatory to the USG in relation to
the Headley case, and Mueller responded that we would welcome such documents. Returning to the issue of access to
Headley, Chidambaram asked whether GOI personnel could monitor and pass questions “in real time” to USG personnel
conducting Headley’s interrogation. Mueller replied that he would look into this possibility. Chidambaram again thanked
the USG for providing information and assistance, but asked whether GOI requests could be handled more promptly. The
Home Minister asked for increased cooperation in three areas: 1) cybser security; 2) forensic cooperation; and 3) some
financial initiatives and cooperation.
5. (S) Chidambaram confided that “I have a feeling in my bones that Headley was not acting alone” in India and expressed
frustration over what he characterized as Headley’s false claim that he had no accomplices in India. The Home Affairs
Minister conceded he had no evidence to support his working hypothesis that Headley formed sleeper cells in India, one
of which may have perpetrated the February 13 Pune bombing. He noted that the GOI would not file formal charges against
Headley until the trial of Mumbai defendant Mir Kasab is finished for fear that Kasab would use the Headley charges as a
way to delay conclusion of his own trial. Chidambaram complained that Pakistan had “done damn near nothing” to prosecute
Mumbai-related terror suspects, but added that the GOI would present a list of terror suspects to Pakistani officials
when the two sides meet for talks in New Delhi on February 25. Mueller said he was traveling to Pakistan and would press
the Pakistanis for increased cooperation. ROEMER