Can hit Dawood Ibrahim covertly, says US

New Delhi: While confirming to their Indian counterparts that underworld don Dawood Ibrahim was indeed present in Pakistan, Karachi to be precise, the American intelligence agencies have also categorically told them that the only way Dawood can indeed be taken out of Pakistan or eliminated was through a covert operation.

Both the home ministry and Indian intelligence agencies had sought cooperation from the FBI and other components in the US intelligence apparatus to help them track and get Dawood back.

Home minister Sushilkumar Shinde, too, has raised the issue many times. However, highly-placed intelligence sources said that the US agencies clearly told their Indian counterparts that the only way “Dawood can be taken out was through a covert operation”.

Covert op on ‘D’ to be a tricky call

There are, sources said, two main reasons for the US?intelligence agencies saying that a covert operation is the only way to get back Dawood Ibrahim. First, Pakistan will continue to flatly deny any presence of Dawood on their soil and,  second, the underworld don continues to live under tight security provided by  government agencies and his operations continue to flourish out of Pakistan.

"This is as far as the Americans have helped us. Possibility of any further assistance from their end seems remote as they have out the onus back on our agencies. But yes, they have confirmed Dawood’s presence in Pakistan and are clear that he cannot be handed back to Indian authorities through diplomatic or legal channels and the only option is a covert operation.

Now, this is a tricky issue and the political establishment will have to take a call on it," a senior intelligence official said. The home minister has been personally playing an extremely proactive role in nabbing Dawood and this was reason for roping in American agencies also.

Sources claimed the Union home ministry was also hoping for some "concrete development" on Dawood before the Lok Sabha polls as this would have sent out a strong signal on the government’s intent on national security. 

Sources claim that it was unlikely now that the Indian intelligence agencies would get any further help or inputs on Dawood from their American counterparts. Though the underworld don has been declared a global terrorist by the American agencies, he does not seem to be a priority for them as of now, intelligence officials stated.