Chidambaram in New York, meets FBI and security officials

New York, Sep 9 (PTI) On a visit here, Home Minister
of India P Chidambaram had a first-hand experience of how the
US' financial capital, which is on the terror radar, is
protected by security agencies from terrorist attacks.

Chidambaram, who arrived here on the first leg of his
four-day US visit on Tuesday, was briefed by officials from
FBI, intelligence and security agencies and New York Police
about the measures being taken by them to prevent any
Mumbai-type terrorist attacks.

From walking at the Penn Station, which handles
thousands of train passengers every day, to a briefing by the
New York Police, which had made several changes in its
counter-terrorism measures post-26/11 attacks, Chidambaram
and his team of officials got to know how a mega city like New
York can be protected from terrorists without causing much
inconvenience to its residents.

Chidambaram was also told about the coast guard
facility at State Island. It was an important aspect of his
trip given that the terrorists who attacked west Indian city
Mumbai on November 26 last year entered through the sea route.

Coastal security is now considered an integral part of
New York's counter-terrorism mechanism.

Within hours of his landing in Big Apple, Chidambaram
was at the Joint Terror Task Force Centre of the FBI in New
York, where he was given an exclusive briefing by the New York
Police Department on the steps being taken by them to protect
the city.

Before Chidambaram left New York by train for
Washington, he was briefed about the security of the Mass
Transport System at the Penn station as security officials
went through the procedure of random frisking and searching of
passengers.

In Washington, Chidambaram will meet with top
officials of the Obama Administration, heads of intelligence
and security agencies and influential lawmakers over the next
three days.

The visit is aimed at carrying forward the dialogue
with US with regard to assessment of the security situation in
South Asia, understanding the Counter-Terrorism institutions
and structures in US as well as meeting with Secretary of
State Hillary Clinton and senior officials.

The visit is also significant in the context of
India's continued appeal to the international community to
exert pressure on Pakistan to take firm action towards
dismantling of the terror infrastructure in that country as
well as prosecution of all accused in the Mumbai attacks
who are now in Pakistan.

Chidambaram will also be discussing issues related to
combating financing of terrorism and steps which will need to
be taken in this regard as well as with regard to prevention
of money laundering. PTI LKJ
SDE