According to Indian Government sources, his arrest came after months of diplomatic negotiations involving authorities in Riyadh, Washington DC, and New Delhi.[1] Indian dignitaries visiting Saudi Arabia had also lobbied Saudi authorities for assistance in Ansari’s case. Intelligence Bureau director Nehchal Sandhu is known to have directly worked with his Saudi counterpart, Prince Muqrin bin Abdulaziz, then director General of Saudi Intelligence agency Al Mukhabarat Al A'amah during the investigations.[17] The Indian and Saudi Intelligence services had identified Ansari on the basis of intercepted phone communications.[17]