Mumbai attacks main suspect admits working with Pakistan-based group

Continuing his expose on the role of Pakistan-based terror organisations, its army, spy agency ISI and others, LeT terrorist-turned-approver David Coleman Headley on Tuesday described how he was assigned to gather military intelligence in India and recruit spies from the Indian Army.

On Monday, Headley had told the court that he had visited Mumbai eight times between 2003 and 2008, seven of which were before the deadly attacks in November 2008.

Headley said the Mumbai attacks were planned in a meeting in November 2007 and it was attended by Mir and Abu Khafa.

Earlier in the day, before Headley’s deposition, Jundal told the court that he was withdrawing his lawyer and sought 15 days’ time for appointing a new one.

Headley testified by video conference Monday from an undisclosed location in the United States where he is serving a 35-year prison term for his role in the Mumbai attack.

It further said, “India blames Saeed and Lakhvi for masterminding the attacks in 2008 and Pakistan’s reluctance to hand them over remains a continual source of friction between the nuclear rivals”.

He said the LeT and the ISI have a close nexus with the spy agency providing the “financial, military and moral support”, Nikam later told media persons.

Talking about his travel to India, the LeT operative said, “Before the first visit, (his LeT handler) Sajid Mir (also an accused in the case) gave me instructions to make a general video of Mumbai”.

Headley, the son of a former Pakistani diplomat, was sentenced after admitting scouting targets for the Mumbai attackers.

He said that both Major Iqbal and Major Ali were associated with ISI and It was major Iqbal who trained him.

He also informed them about the story that he had cooked, that he was visiting India in the guise of an immigration consultant working on behalf of the firm of Dr Rana and Sanders – Immigration Law Center, established in Chicago in 2006.

Saeed and Zaki-ur-Rehman Lakhvi would give religious speeches and speak of ‘jihad, ‘ defined as “fight against enemies of Islam”. “They will say that his (Headley) statements have been made under American laws, which are not applicable in Pakistan”, he added.

However, the plan to attack the conference hall in Taj was cancelled due to logistical reasons, “like it was not possible to sneak in weapons and personnel to the hall”, he said.

He also said that the LeT group as a whole was responsible for the terror attacks in India, and it can be speculated that all orders came from its top commander Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi. “It will help us”, he said. “It is known who all were involved”. The question then arises can Pakistan now dither over handing over Hafiz Saeed?