Obama visit, Afghanistan discussed as CIA chief meets Chidambaram
By IANSSaturday, October 2, 2010
NEW DELHI - Visiting Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) chief Leon Panetta met Home Minister P. Chidambaram here Saturday and discussed the security arrangements for the coming visit of US President Barack Obama and the situation in Afghanistan, official sources said.
US Ambassador Timothy J. Roemer accompanied Panetta when he called on Chidambaram at his North Block office. Obama is scheduled to visit India early November.
Besides Delhi, Obama may visit Punjab and Maharashtra, as per the tentative programme being prepared by the two governments. Earlier, there was a proposal for the US president to visit Bangalore too.
From the Indian side, Research and Analysis Wing chief K.C. Verma attended the discussions.
According to government sources, the situation in Afghanistan after the polls and the threat from the Afghani Taliban to the South Asian region were also discussed in detail.
India is learnt to have drawn attention to the continuing activities of militant outfits in Pakistan that had masterminded the 26/11 Mumbai terror strike, the sources said.
The two sides shared information for the counter-terrorist strategies in South Asia, they added.
Earlier, Panetta held separate meetings with Home Secretary G.K. Pillai, Intelligence Bureau chief Rajiv Mathur and RAW chief Verma.
