Headley's extradition from US to be discussed: Chidambaram

New Delhi, June 29 (IANS) India Friday said it will have to discuss with US the extradition of Lashkar-e-Taiba operative David Coleman Headley, and termed it the next logical question with regard to the 26/11 suspect, who allegedly carried out a recce of Mumbai ahead of the 2008 attacks.

"I think the further question is whether we will get further access to Headley, whether he would be extradited to India...These are matters to be discussed with US authorities," Home Minister P. Chidambaram told a press conference called to present the monthly report of his ministry.

Headley now stands convicted in the US pending sentence for his role in the 26/11 attacks that claimed 166 lives, including some Americans.

"As you know, Headley has been convicted by a US court pending sentencing. Only after that exercise is completed, can we say whether Headley will be extradited to India. I am pretty confident that Headley will be given a long sentence in the US," Chidambaram said.

He also noted that Headley had worked for an US administration's agency before defecting to Pakistan, to get active as a terrorist.

The home minister pointed out that India had also got access to the 50-year-old Pakistani-American that led to questioning of the 26/11 suspect by Indian sleuths in the US.