Washington, September 11: Union Home Minister, P Chidambaram, today said that Federal Bureau of Investigation, the premier intelligence agency of the US, is a good partner with India in investigating terrorist crimes.
“The FBI has been very helpful to India in the Mumbai case in the analysis of DNA samples, in decoding the GPS instruments. Two of their officers have deposed before a Mumbai court,” he said.
“So obviously, FBI is a good partner in investigating terrorist crimes and good partner for sharing terrorist related intelligence which effects either India or the United States,” he added.
The Indian agencies would continue to maintain their relationship with the FBI and that is mutually beneficial to both countries, Chidambaram said.
On the question of level of intelligence sharing between the two countries, he said it has been pretty good. “Even today, when there is actionable intelligence, it is shared by the US agencies with the Indian agencies. We share any intelligence that we have vis-?-vis the United States and this would continue,” Chidambaram said.
On his meeting with the Treasury Secretary, Timothy Geithner, Chidambaram said money laundering would be one of the issues to be discussed with him today before he leaves Washington on his way back home via New York.
Noting that India?s membership to the FATF (Financial Action Task Force) is an issue, Chidambaram said the US has already promised that they would support and quicken India’s membership to FATF.
“Although it does not quite follow under my jurisdiction immediately, but since I started the process of acquiring the membership of FATF, I would mention this to Secretary Geithner and we would exchange views about the economic situation,” he said.
‘Mega Indian cities can learn lessons from Big Apple’
Highly impressed by the steps taken by New York Police Department (NYPD) to secure the Big Apple from any major terrorist attack, Chidambaram said that mega Indian cities like Mumbai and New Delhi could implement some of their practices.
Chidambaram, who was given an extensive briefing by the New York Police Commissioner, Raymond Kelly, on the day of his arrival in the US, said he was “impressed” by the steps being taken by NYPD to secure a mega city like that of New York.
“Some of those practices can be applied in India’s mega cities like Delhi, Mumbai etc,” Chidambaram said in response to a question at a press briefing with the Indian media in Washington.
“NYPD was in my list (of meetings) because I was keen to know how it was securing a mega city. There is a new book called “Securing the City” and that describes what Commissioner Kelly has done in NYPD. I was very keen to see how NYPD worked,” Chidambaram said.
‘US positive towards security issue confronted by India’
Chidambaram termed “very fruitful” his three days of intensive interaction with the top officials of the Obama Administration and said the US has a very positive attitude towards the security issues being confronted by India.
“We had very fruitful discussions. I am very pleased with the level of interest shown by the officials and leaders of the US Administration as well as the very positive attitude they take to the security issues that confront India,” Chidambaram told the Indian media at a press conference.
Winding up his maiden trip to the US, Chidambaram said he discussed with the US leaders the security situation in South Asia, including Pakistan, and India’s concerns about actions being taken by Pakistan regarding those involved in the Mumbai terrorist attacks last year.
“The response has been quite positive and I hope we can take this forward in the days and months ahead,” he said.
—PTI