26/11 Mumbai terror attacks | Unravelling the Tahawwur Rana-David Headley link

Mumbai: Pakistani spy agency Inter-Services Intelligence, terrorist groups Lashkar-e-Taiba and Harkat-ul Jihadi Islami (HUJI) and former army doctor-turned-businessman Tahawwur Hussain Rana had funded David Coleman Headley alias Daood Sayed Gilani during the latter’s visits to Mumbai in the run-up to the 26/11 terror attacks.

This has come to light during the course of investigations by the Crime Branch of Mumbai and the National Investigation Agency (NIA) and even Headley had testified before a special court in Mumbai.

Rana, a Pakistani-Canadian, and Headley, a Pakistani-American, both 64, were course mates at the prestigious Cadet College Hasanabdal in Attock district of Punjab Province.

According to Headley’s testimony, he had made at least five visits to Mumbai before the November 26-29, 2008 fidayeen strike and one after that - a statement that proves that the ISI and LeT were planning something more.

Besides, Headley has also revealed about his contacts with Osama bin Laden-founded al Qaeda.

On December 10, 2015, through video-conferencing, Headley deposed before Judge GA Sanap, turned approver and was pardoned. From February 8-13, 2016, Headley’s cross-examination was conducted by Special Public Prosecutor Ujjwal Nikam and from March 23-26, 2016, Headley’s cross-examination was done by advocate Abdul Wahab Khan, the defence counsel for Abu Jundal, whose trial is underway.

After 26/11, Headley worked for al Qaeda, which wanted to target New Delhi-based National Defence College (NDC) and Chabad Houses in Pushkar, Goa and Pune. In February 2009, he had met Ilyas Kashmiri, once considered the successor to Laden. “Ilyas Kashmiri gave me the money for the airfare and other expenses,” he had said, confirming that the al Qaeda man was then heading the 313 Brigade in Waziristan.

When he was asked whether he was working for al Qaeda, he had told the court: “Yes”. He said that Major Abdul Rehman Pasha, who was once his colleague in LeT and later drifted to al Qaeda, provided him the list of Chabad Houses in India.

Prodded for reasons on spying at NDA and selecting as a target, Headley had told the court: “It’s a high-value target, because it had senior officers….Major Pasha said if attack is successful they will be able to kill more Brigadiers and Generals than any other war.....National Defence College was the primary target, Chabad Houses were secondary," he said.

While being stationed in Mumbai on reconnaissance missions, Headley used to receive money from Rana, who was based in Chicago, and used to collect money from Sajid Mir, his LeT handler, Major Iqbal of the ISI and also Major Abdul Rehman Pasha, who left the Pakistani Army to join the LeT and then drifted to al Qaeda.

As regards money that he received while in Mumbai from Rana, Headley had said said that that it was on four occasions - Rs 67,605 on October 11, 2006, $500 on November 7, 2006, Rs 17,636 on November 30, 2006 and $1,000 on December 4 2006.

TIMELINE

On February 15, 2006, his name was changed to David Coleman Headley

Spring 2006, the first meeting was held to discuss whether to target Delhi, Mumbai or Bengaluru

In 2006, David Headley visits Pakistan and meets his ISI handler Major Iqbal and Lashkar contact Sajid Mir

First Visit: Arrived in Mumbai from Karachi on September 14, 2006. In Mumbai he made a general video of Mumbai creating a huge databank of still photos and footage of the city.

Second Visit: Arrived in Mumbai from Karachi on February 22, 2007

Third Visit: Arrived in Mumbai from Karachi on March 23, 2007

Fourth Visit: Arrived in Mumbai from Karachi on September 3, 2007

Fifth Visit: Arrived in New Delhi from Lahore on October 15, 2007

September, 2008: First attempt to attack Mumbai fails

October, 2008: Second attempt to attack Mumbai fails

November 26-29, 2008: 10 fidayeens from Pakistan carry out attack on Mumbai, killing 166 persons and injuring over 300 others

Sixth Visit: March 7-17, 2009: Headley lands in Delhi post 26/11 terror attacks to carry out reconnaissance