Headley and Rana laid foundation of 26/11 terror attacks

The duo had deep links with Inter-Services Intelligence, the spy agency of Pakistan and terrorist organisations like Lashkar-e-Taiba and Harkat-ul Jihadi Islami.

Mumbai: Pakistani-American national David Coleman Headley alias Daood Sayed Gilani and Pakistani-Canadian Dr Tahawwur Hussain Rana who were childhood friends and course-mates at the prestigious Cadet College Hasanabdal in Attock district of Punjab Province had laid the foundation for the 26/11 fidayeen attacks in Mumbai. 

The duo -- both aged 64 -- had deep links with Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), the spy agency of Pakistan and terrorist organisations like Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and Harkat-ul Jihadi Islami (HuJI), according to the investigations by the Crime Branch-CID of Mumbai Police and National Investigation Agency (NIA). 

While Headley entered into a plea bargain to turn an approver and secure pardon provided evidence to a special court in Mumbai during February and March 2016, Rana has been acquitted from the United States. 

Both had played key roles in the in the LeT sponsored terror plans of Mickey Mouse Project that involved reconnaissance of a larger plan to target Danish newspaper Morgenavisen Jyllands-Posten in preparation for an attack in retaliation for the newspaper’s publication of cartoons depicting Prophet Mohammed in 2005 and the November 26, 2008 Mumbai terror attacks, in which 166 were killed and over 300 plus injured.

While being stationed in Mumbai on reconnaissance missions, Headley used to receive money from his childhood friend 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. 

“The ISI, LeT, HuJI, Headley and Rana, Ilyas Kashmiri, Major Iqbal, Sajid Mir were closely linked,” informed sources said based on the investigation and court records. 

“The statements of Pakistani fidayeen Mohammed Ajmal Kasab, who was later handed to death and the testimony of Headley via video-conferencing as an approver has similar points as well,” the sources said. 

Headley has elaborated on the role of Abu Al Kama and Abu Khafa, the two handlers of the 10 fidayeens and LeT operatives Major Iqbal and how they were linked to Zaki-ur Rehman Lakhvi, the LeT operations commander and LeT founder Hafiz Saeed.

During the nine days of his court appearance, Headley faced close to 1,400 questions - around 750 by Nikam and some 650 by Khan. 

In fact, Headley obtained Rana’s consent to open an office of First World Immigration Services as a cover for his activities.

During his deposition, Headly has told about his association with ISI, LeT, Osama bin Laden's al Qaeda.

A daring Headley had made seven visits to India - five before 26/11 and two after that. 

“Headley had advised Rana of his assignment to scout potential targets in India; that Headley obtained Rana’s consent to open an office of First World Immigration Services as a cover for his activities; that Rana advised Headley on how to obtain a visa for travel to India; and that Headley and Rana had reviewed how Headley had done surveillance of the targets that were attacked in Mumbai. Evidence was also produced that Rana told Headley that the terrorists involved in Mumbai attacks should receive Pakistan’s highest military honours posthumously,” according to the NIA. 

The 56-year-old Headley also named Haji Ashraf, a Lahore-based businessman as the one who controls the finances of the terror group and that his nephew was killed when security forces repulsed the attack at the Akshardham temple at Gandhinagar on September 24-25, 2002. 

As regards money that he received while in Mumbai from Dr Rana, Headley had claimed that that it was on four occasions - Rs 67,605 on October 11, 2006, US dollars 500 on November 7, 2006, Rs 17,636 on November 30, 2006 and US dollars 1,000 on December 4 2006. Major Pasha also gave him 80,000 Indian rupees on one occasion. Major Iqbal gave 25,000 US dollars from him before he left for Mumbai.