Mumbai:
The timing of the visit was crucial. On Thursday, US Ambassador Timothy Roemer met India's Home Minister; hours later, a Chicago court will see David Coleman Headley plead guilty to a key role in India's worst-ever terror attack, 26/11. (
Read: David Headley: Truth & lies)
''We are co-operating with Indian authorities because our end goal is fighting the common enemy of terrorism and continuing to work together,'' said Roemer after the meeting with P Chidambaram.
Sources say India has asked for access to Headley's wife in the US. (
Read: India wants access to Headley's wife in US: Reports)
There is much that India has at stake with Headley's decision to abandon the not-guilty stand he took just two months ago. India's worst fears: that Headley's new plea will allow him a lighter sentence and that this will be support the theory that Headley is actually a US agent who went rogue. (
Read: Headley to plead guilty, India watches closely)
Officially, Headley will be getting a reduced sentence for providing key information that will help to unravel some of the world's biggest terror networks. But are American intelligence officials looking to protect one of their own? (
Read: Did US hide truth about Headley from India?)
Headley was on the FBI's radar for over a year before he was arrested in Chicago in September. However, despite the fact that emails between him and the Lashkar-e-Toiba were intercepted, America did not warn India about him.
Worse, that Headley had been watched for a month before 26/11. Combined with the fact that that the FBI had intelligence inputs that suggested terror attacks at Mumbai hotels, Indian officials see the that they were not privy to the information that America was steadily collecting against Headley.
Some of the 12 charges that Headley faces in America come with the death penalty. After his plea bargain, it's unlikely that prosecutors will seek capital punishment for him. Much more alarming for India - it may never get to question him. (
Read: Will David Headley be extradited to India?)
So far, America's official stand has been that India's request for his extradition is "premature." India has asserted that despite Headley's new stand in court, it will continue to push for access to him.
That's an empty threat for many. Like Bhisham Mansukhani, who survived 26/11. He says, "The Americans clearly have a lot more use for him. They are not going to let him go irrespective of what sentencing he receives. I don't think we will be seeing David Headley in India ever again.'' (
Read: Headley-Rana's conversation about 26/11)
For others, any sort of reduced punishment for Headley is an insult to the lives lost. Suolchana Jadhav's son died during the Mumbai attacks. Her view - ''The person who has been arrested in America for 26/11 must be punished for his crime. His punishment should not be reduced.'' (
Watch: Rahul Bhatt's Headley story)
At the 26/11 court in Mumbai, where terrorist Ajmal Kasab and others are being tried, Headley is just one of many accused. His absence will not stall or weaken the ongoing trial.
But without Headley, India will not be able to piece together, the stifling patchwork quilt of terror stitched across the subcontinent.