Sajid Mir, David Headley's contact person played key role in 26/11

Mumbai: Highlighting Pakistan's role in aiding terrorism across the world and providing safe haven to terrorists, the Indian government has exposed how the neighbouring country initially declared dead, dreaded terrorist Sajid Mir but brought him back to life following internal pressure.

“The Sajid Mir case, in which this terrorist was declared dead and then, in response to international pressure, brought back to life, found alive and arrested, is the most glaring example,” Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri said during the briefing of Operation Sindoor.

As a matter of fact, Sajid Mir was one of those who was involved in every stage of the conspiracy of the November 26-29, 2008 Mumbai fidayeen attacks which was executed by the Lashkar-e-Taiba.

This was established during the deposition of David Coleman Headley alias Daood Sayed Gilani, the Pakistani-American, who did the main groundwork and reconnaissance ahead of the 26/11 terror attacks in India’s financial capital.

As a matter of fact, doctor-turned-businessman Tahawwur Hussain Rana, the Pakistani-Canadian, who was a childhood friend of Headley, and now in custody of the National Investigation Agency (NIA) after his extradition from United States, is expected to throw more light on the role of Sajid Mir.

A master of deception, Sajid Mir, who looked after LeT's “foreign affairs”, used several aliases like Ibrahim, Wasi, Khalid, Vashi, Vashibhai, Bhai Ali, Ali Bhai, Moosa Bhai, Wasi Bhai, Wasi Ibrahim, Sajid Majeed, Sajjid Mir, Bhai Moosa, Ibrahim Shah.

During his testimony before a special court in Mumbai, Headley spilled the beans on the role of LeT chief Hafiz Saeed, his close aide and chief of operations Zaki-ur-Rehman Lakhvi, the latter’s confidante Abu Al Kama and Abu Khafa.

In fact, Headley on many occasions, said that he was reporting to Sajid Mir on many issues and was in constant touch with him.

"Sajid Mir played (a clip) on the laptop....we were in a vehicle in Rawalpindi...he was showing how Indian media covered it…voices of two persons were heard...Abu Kama and Abu Khafa,” Headley has told the court.

In fact, he has also said that it was Sajid Mir who had asked him to undertake reconnaissance of the National Defence College in New Delhi and Chabad Houses.

When he came to India under cover through the help of Rana, among those who were aware were Sajid Mir and Major Iqbal, an ISI operative.