South Asia News
CIA director Leon Panetta meets Indian officials
Mar 19, 2009, 11:15 GMT
New Delhi - United States' Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) director Leon Panetta held talks with Indian Home Minister P Chdiambaram Thursday on various issues including terrorism and the situation in neighbouring Pakistan, officials and news reports said.
Panetta is on his first overseas visit since being appointed head of the CIA by US President Barack Obama.
He is scheduled to leave for Pakistan later in the day.
Indian and US diplomatic officials described Panetta's meeting with the home minister as a courtesy call.
Panetta's meetings with Chidambaram and high-ranking Indian intelligence officials focused on cooperation against terrorism especially in the context of the November terrorist attacks in Mumbai, the PTI news agency reported citing official sources.
The discussions also included the security situation in Pakistan and Afghanistan.
India has blamed Pakistan-based elements for the attack on the financial hub which left more than 170 people dead.
Panetta's visit is the third by a high-level US intelligence official since the Mumbai attacks.
Director of National Intelligence John Michel McConnel visited New Delhi in December 2008 and Federal Bureau of Intelligence director Robert Mueller on March 3.
US intelligence agencies have been collaborating with India on investigations in the Mumbai attacks in which 26 foreigners, including five US nationals, were killed.
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