Indian Intelligence agencies have drawn much flak for their glaring lack in communication that failed to preempt the 26/11 terror attacks last year.

American intelligence agencies operating in South Asia also don't share information with each other, Massachusetts Democrat and Senator John F Kerry, who recently visited Indian, Pakistan and Afghanistan, revealed during a Congressional hearing on Tuesday.

Even the diplomats posted in the heartland of America's war on terror never shared notes, Kerry told President-elect Barack Obama's [Images] Secretary of State designate Senator Hillary Clinton [Images] during the latter's confirmation hearing.

Kerry, the new chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said, "I was stunned in India, Pakistan and Afghanistan to learn that our principal diplomats in that region do not get together to compare notes."

"I was also shocked to learn that our intelligence folks likewise don't do the same. That is mind-boggling," he added.

Clinton acknowledged that "These are among the challenges that we intend to take on -- trying to create more of a regional perspective and a functional approach, instead of being caught in the boxes that people unfortunately too often feel imprisoned by, so that there are certain lines preventing you from actually communicating with your fellow American diplomats across that line or intelligence or whatever."

She told Kerry, "I don't have the experience that you have over the years on this Committee and even before," but noted, "In my travels, I did see the results of that kind of compartmentalisation and we are going to try to break that down."

Clinton assured Kerry that the Obama administration will "try to use the bureaus more effectively."

She stressed on the significance of "more communication back and forth among those who are American representatives in regions of interest and concern to us."

Questioned on the contentious issue of appointing a special envoy for South Asia, a move strongly opposed by India, Clinton said, "No final decision has been made."

But the Secretary State-designate voiced her support for such special envoys in crucial regions. "I believe special envoys, particularly vis-�-vis military commands, have a lot to recommend," she said.

It is imperative, said Clinton, to "put someone well experienced and expert to work on it. So, we are working through that, and this is an area we will be coming back to you with."

Sources told rediff.com that among the names that are being considered for the high-profile post were former career diplomats Richard Holbrooke and Tom Pickering, erstwhile ambassador to India.