February 8, 2016
Pakistani-American Lashkar-e-Toiba operative David Coleman Headley on Monday made some startling revelations in the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks and revealed the outfit and Pakistan's ISI link. The revelations are crucial for India as it will help in nailing Inter-Service Intelligence for the deadly terror attack in which 166 people were killed
February 8, 2016
Pakistani-American Lashkar-e-Toiba operative David Coleman Headley on Monday made some startling revelations in the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks and revealed the outfit and Pakistan's ISI link. The revelations are crucial for India as it will help in nailing Inter-Service Intelligence for the deadly terror attack in which 166 people were killed
Headley deposed before Mumbai Sessions Court via video conferencing and told how Jamaat-ud-Dawa motivated him, help provided by ISI, LeT. The sinister plan to attack Mumbai failed twice before 26/11, Headley revealed during his over 5-hour deposition before Mumbai court.
Headley said that he was a "true follower of LeT" and came to India eight times — seven before the terror attack on November 26, 2008 and once after that.
Here is what David Headley revealed:
- 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, Headley tells court via video conferencing.
- 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.
Courtesy: IBN
