Pakistan’s investigation into 26/11 attacks was a farce: Headley
Friday’s testimony of Lashkar-e-Taiba operative David Coleman Headley revealed that the investigation done by Pakistani agency, Federal Investigation Agency in November 26, 2008 (26/11) attacks on Mumbai was nothing short of a farce
Friday’s testimony of Lashkar-e-Taiba operative David Coleman Headley revealed that the investigation done by Pakistani agency, Federal Investigation Agency in November 26, 2008 (26/11) attacks on Mumbai was nothing short of a farce, and LeT and Al Qaida commanders knew nothing will happen to those being investigated or arrested by the federal agency.
Nothing will happen to those being investigated, Headley was assured by LeT
“All happening to chacha and his friends is superficial, don’t worry nothing will happen to them,” read an email sent by Major Abdul Rehman Pasha, a former Pakistani military officer who had first joined LeT and later shifted to Al Qaida, to Headley, after the 56-year-old US national expressed deep concern for LeT bosses, especially its founder Hafiz Saeed and operational commander Zaki-ur Rehman Lakhvi.
How LeT used code language while exchanging emails with Headley
Responding to a question from special public prosecutor Ujjwal Nikam, Headley clarified that the term “chacha” referred to Lakhvi. Deposing through video conferencing from an undisclosed location in the US, Headley said in the same mail that Major Pasha had warned him that Lakhvi, who was being questioned at the time in connection with the 26/11 attacks may reveal Headley’s involvement.
“Chacha may have to reveal something about Ismail under pressure,” read the mail sent by Major Pasha.
In July 2009, when the investigation by FIA started, Headley had sent a mail to his LeT handler, Sajid Mir, seeking to know from him if the problems of uncle (LeT operational commander Zaki-ur Rehman Lakhvi) and his friends (other LeT members) were solved.
Mir replied to him saying, “Uncle is very well and flying high, don’t worry,” and thus assured Headley that nothing will happen to the ‘uncle.” Headley explained that the term ‘flying high’ indicated that Lakhvi’s moral was high.
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Subsequently, on August 28, 2009, when Headley enquired about LeT founder Hafiz Saeed, Mir sent him a reply stating: “Old uncle got H1 virus 2, and the doctors want him to be checked up.” “That meant, Hafiz Saheb was under investigation and was likely to be arrested.”
Mir replied to a similar query from Headley: “Old uncle is fit and healthy like anything and these days (he is) moving back and forth for his business like a tornado.” This time, Mir also instructed the US national not to lend ear to rumours. On a query from special public prosecutor Ujjwal Nikam, Headley clarified that Mir was thus assuring him that he need not worry about the “old uncle” and nothing will happen to him.
Headley said that he had been to Pakistan on a number of occasions after December 2008 when FIA began its investigation but he was neither apprehended nor called for interrogation by the federal agency.
A year later LeT had plans to attack another Indian city
Headley also revealed that about a year after the horrendous attacks of November 26, 2008 on Mumbai, the Pakistan based militant outfit had plans to attack another destination near the financial capital of the country.
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