Pakistani-American terrorist and 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks convict David Coleman Headley on Tuesday continued his deposition for the second consecutive day before a court in Mumbai.
Headley has confirmed a nexus between terrorist group Lashkar-e-Taiba and Pakistan intelligence agency ISI. He further revealed that the 26/11 plan was finalised a year before the attack was carried out in November 2008.
Here are the revelations made by Headley:
- Names two Indians – one Meera Kriplani, whose house he stayed at, and Basheer Sheikh, who picked him up from airport.
- Headley tells court that his wife Faiza had in January 2008 complained to US Embassy in Islamabad that he was involved in terrorist activities.
- LeT, Jaish-e-Mohammed, Hizbul Mujahideen and Harkat-ul-Mujahideen are all allies of United Jihad Council working in PoK.
- LeT members had planned to attack a conference meeting of Indian defence scientists to be held at Taj Hotel in Mumbai.
- Lashkar-e-Taiba was constantly consulting Pakistan spy agency ISI.
- Headley told Hafiz Saeed, Lakhvi to challenge the decision by the US to ban LeT.
- Lakhvi suggested consulting ISI before approaching the courts against the ban.
- The plan to attack Mumbai was finalised a year before the 26/11 attacks, in November 2007.
- Headley revealed details of his recce shared with his LeT handlers, Sajir Mir and Abu Khafa.
- ISI operative Major Iqbal told Headley to infiltrate Indian Army.
- Major Iqbal told Headley to gather intelligence and recruit spies in Indian Army.
- A retired Pakistan Army officer called Major Pasha was also associated with Lashkar-e-Taiba.
- Major Pasha gave weapon training to LeT cadre.
- Headley says his contact in LeT was Sajid Mir, also an accused in the case.
- Came to India seven times before 26/11 and once after the terror attacks.
- Changed name from Dawood Gilani to David Headley in 2006 so that he could enter India and set up some business. He had taken a 5-year visa to set up his business in India.
"I applied for change in name on February 5, 2006 in Philadelphia. I changed my name to David Headley to get a new passport under that name. I wanted a new passport so that I could enter India with an American identity.
"After I got a new passport I disclosed it to my colleagues in LeT of which one of them was Sajid Mir, the person with whom I was dealing with. The objective for coming to India was to set up an office/business so that I can live in India. Before the first visit, Sajid Mir gave me instructions to make a general video of Mumbai," Headley reveals.
- LeT made two unsuccessful attempts to carry out terror attacks before finally striking in November 2008, once in September and another in October.
- Joined LeT after being "influenced" by its head Hafiz Saeed and took his first "course" with them in 2002 at Muzaffarabad.
- Headley says Hafiz Saeed was his mentor. The court showed him Saeed's photograph to recognise to which he confirmed that he is the same person.
- In training camps, they were taught that India is enemy of Islam. According to Headley, 'Jihad' is to fight against enemies of Islam'.
-Headley says he intended to go to Kashmir to fight against Indian troops, but they (Lakhvi) didn't send him. They (Lakhvi) told him that he's too old for this and they will use him for some other purpose.
- Headley's Indian visa application he had furnished all "wrong" information "to protect his cover".
- Dr Tahawwur Rana assisted Headley in getting a visa. Rana was not aware of the plan till last minute.
- Giving India a proof against the ISI, Headley names Major Iqbal, Major Ali and Abdul Pasha of the Pakistani intelligence service. Headley says he and retired major Abdur Rehman Pasha were arrested in Landi Kotal near Pak-Afghan border because he looked like a foreigner. During his arrest, Major Ali came to interrogate him and he was having some Indian literature in his possession. During interrogation he gave information to Major Ali that he's holding a business office in India. Major Ali thought that he will be beneficial for gathering intelligence from India, Headley says.
Comments
0 comment