U.S. CIA chief discusses security, terrorism with Indian Home Minister

NEW DELHI. March 19. KAZINFORM The Indo-U.S. cooperation on security and joint fight against global terrorism topped the agenda of the meeting between visiting United States Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) chief Leon Panetta and Indian Home Minister PChidambaram here Thursday.

Sources at the Indian Home Ministry said that the meeting lasted for about 20 minutes in the headquarters of the interior ministry. "Both sides expressed satisfaction over the talks," the sources said. Panetta is the third high-ranking U.S. official to visit India since the Mumbai terror attacks last November which killed over 170 people and injured hundreds. U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Director Robert Mueller was in the country earlier this month. Panetta will also meet with Indian National Security Advisor M.K.Narayanan, India's intelligence organ Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) Chief K.C. Verma, and Director of Intelligence Bureau Rajiv Mathur, according to local media reports. The rise of Taliban forces in Pakistan, the Lahore attack on the Sri Lankan cricket team, the mutiny of the Bangladesh Rifles are likely to figure prominently in their talks, said the reports. Panetta is also likely to touch upon the impact of the economic crisis on international security and share the U.S. assessment with India ahead of the G-20 Summit in London, said the reports. The CIA tipped India last September about a possible terror attack in Mumbai and provided intelligence about the bombing of the Indian Embassy in Kabul last July, according to the report, Kazinform cites Xinhua.