Too premature to comment on extradition of Headley: US

It is too premature to talk about the extradition of US national David Coleman Headly to India for his alleged role in Mumbai terror attacks, a top Obama administration official has said.

Assistant Secretary of State for Public Affairs, PJ Crowley was responding to a question about the statement by Indian Home Secretary GK Pillai in New Delhi that India would seek extradition of Headley, who was arrested by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) in October on charges of plotting terrorist attacks in Denmark and India.

"Obviously, we do have an extradition treaty with India, but how that will work going forward, I think that's premature," Crowley, told reporters at a news briefing.

Early this week, FBI formally chargesheeted Headley for being allegedly involved in the Mumbai terrorist attack. "The FBI and Justice Department continue to share information with our foreign and domestic law enforcement partners in the Headley investigation," Dean Boys, spokesman, National Security Division of the US Department of Justice said.

"As a matter of long-standing policy, we never comment on extradition matters. Headley remains charged in federal court in Chicago and the investigation continues."

In New Delhi, Union Home Secretary Pillai, told reporters that once India completes its probe into Headley's links with the Mumbai terror attacks, the government will seek his extradition.

"Once we file the chargesheet, we will definitely be seeking access for both interrogation and at a subsequent stage, definitely his extradition," he said.

Headley, 49, is now in a Chicago jail, had pledged not guilty before a Chicago court early this week.