LeT trained Headley for India-specific mission

Terror suspect gained expertise in unarmed combat, recce

Headley, currently in the custody of the FBI in the US, also “received indoctrination on the merits of waging jihad” in Pakistan.

A copy of the plea agreement with Deccan Herald gives details of Headley’s activities from 2002 to 2009 that took him to Pakistan, India, USA and other countries to carry out his plans. Headley is pleading guilty to all the charges – accepting the version given in the plea agreement - between him and the US government.

Starting 2002, Headley attended “training camps organised and operated by Lashkar-e-Toiba on five separate occasions in or around 2002 through 2005” and thereafter on about August 2002, the suspect underwent a training in, “among other skills”, the use of weapons and grenades. In April 2003, the terror-suspect attended three-months course which included “close combat tactics.”

In August and December 2003 he sharpened his skills in counter-surveillance and received tactical training when he also interacted with Tahawwur Hussain Rana, the other Pakistani terror-accused in the custody of  the FBI.

India-specific instruction

The 35-page plea agreement between Headley versus United States of America says that Headley was given India-specific terror instructions by the Lashkar-e-Toiba operatives in late 2005 after he was fully indoctrinated and trained in combat skills in Pakistan.

The document makes it clear that in late 2005 to about October 3, 2009, Headley “conspired with Lashkar-e-Toiba” as also others “to deliver, place, discharge and detonate explosives and other lethal devices in, into and against places of public use, state and government facilities, public transportation systems and infrastructure facilities in India.”

In June 2006, Headley travelled to Chicago and briefed Rana about his terror assignment in India by opening an office for First World Immigration that “would provide a cover story or his activities.” Rana agreed to open an immigration office in Mumbai and helped Headley get his travel visa to India. Headley travelled to Pakistan several times and told Lashkar commanders that Rana’s immigration office would be used as a cover for the terror activities in India.

Headley visited India in September 2006 and February 2007 “and conducted video surveillance of various locations, including, but not limited to, extensive video of the second floor of the Taj Mahal hotel in Mumbai, India”, the document said adding that soon after, he met co-conspirators in Pakistan and provided them the video-recording and surveillance he conducted.