David Headley alleges Pakistan role in Mumbai attacks

[ares]

BBC News - David Headley alleges Pakistan role in Mumbai attacks

A US man who scouted sites for the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks has testified in a separate trial that the Pakistani intelligence service aided the militant group that trained him.

David Headley was giving evidence against Tahawwur Rana, who is accused of giving him cover to scout the sites.

Chicago businessman Mr Rana has pleaded not guilty. His lawyers say he was tricked by Headley, a former friend.

Headley has said he was trained by militant group Lashkar-e-Taiba.

At the opening on Monday of Mr Rana's trial for conspiring to plan the Mumbai terror attacks that left more than 160 dead, Headley said Lashkar-e-Taiba and Pakistan's intelligence agency co-ordinated, but did not give specifics.

Pakistan believes Headley is an unreliable witness and analysts expect Islamabad to flatly deny alleged links between militant groups and the Pakistani secret intelligence service.

Mr Rana denies the 12 charges that have been levelled against him.

'Friends with a terrorist'
His lawyers say he was tricked by Headley, a longtime friend from their days at a Pakistani military school. Mr Rana was arrested in 2009, and if convicted, he faces a life sentence.

"What this case is going to be about is David Headley's betrayal of his friend Rana, his betrayal of the US , his betrayal of all human and decent values," Mr Rana's lawyer Charlie Swift was quoted by the Associated Press as saying.

Mr Rana was merely "friends with a terrorist", he said.

Prosecutors say that in 2006 Mr Rana allowed Headley to open an office of his Chicago-based immigration services firm in Mumbai, which Headley then used as cover to scout sites for the 2008 attack.

In November 2008, a group of 10 gunmen the US says were trained by militant group Lashkar-e-Taiba attacked the Taj Mahal and Oberoi hotels, a Jewish centre and a major train station, each of which Headley had scouted in advance.


More than 160 people were killed in the 2008 attacks
In March 2010, Headley, a US citizen who spent much of his childhood in Pakistan, pleaded guilty to taking photographs and video of the targets. He could face up to life in prison and a $3m (£1.86m) fine.

In addition, prosecutors say Headley and Mr Rana plotted an attack, which was never carried out, on Danish newspaper Jyllands-Posten.

Also charged with planning the Mumbai attack are four Pakistanis, including one said by prosecutors to be a Pakistani intelligence officer. None are in US custody.

 

[hembo]

Mumbai terror group had links with Pakistan intelligence, Chicago trial told
David Headley begins testimony at trial of US businessman Tahawwur Rana

Associated Press in Chicago
guardian.co.uk, Monday 23 May 2011 19.22 BST

A Pakistani-American who has pleaded guilty to laying the groundwork for the 2008 terrorist attacks on the Indian city of Mumbai says it was his understanding that the Pakistan militant group Lashkar-e-Taiba and the country's main intelligence agency, the ISI, co-ordinated with each other.

David Coleman Headley testified on Monday at the trial of the Chicago businessman Tahawwur Rana, who is accused of giving Headley cover while he scouted sites in Mumbai for Lashkar-e-Taiba. Headley told the court he started training with the group more than a decade ago.

Headley's testimony is being closely watched for what it might reveal about suspected links between Lashkar and Pakistan's intelligence agency, which has been under scrutiny since Osama bin Laden was killed.

Headley says he received training in Pakistan from Lashkar and that Pakistan's intelligence agency provided assistance to the group.

 

[Machoman]

Wahi old story again and again................move on Indians do something else.

 

[Geronimo2011]

Headley to jury in Mumbai attack trial: Pakistani intelligence provided help to militant group - The Washington Post

CHICAGO — The federal government’s key witness in the trial of a Chicago businessman accused in the 2008 Mumbai attacks testified Monday that he first started training more than a decade ago with a Pakistani militant group that received assistance from the country’s main intelligence agency.

The trial of businessman Tahawwur Rana is being closely watched worldwide for what testimony might reveal about suspected links between the Pakistani militant group blamed in the rampage on India’s largest city and Pakistan’s main intelligence agency, which has come under increased scrutiny since Osama bin Laden was killed by U.S. forces on May 2 outside Islamabad.

Of particular interest is the government’s first and main witness, David Coleman Headley, who is cooperating with prosecutors after pleading guilty to taking photos and videos of targets in Mumbai before the rampage that killed 160 people including six Americans over three days. Rana is accused of providing cover for Headley by allowing him to use his Chicago-based immigration services business as a cover when he traveled to India.

Headley, Rana’s long-time friend from boarding school, told jurors Monday that he received weapons and leadership training with the militant group Lashkar-e-Taiba since 2000 and it was his understanding that Lashkar and Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence agency, known as the ISI, helped each other in general.

“They coordinated with each other and ISI provided assistance to Lashkar,” said Headley, who spoke in a soft voice and with a slight British accent. He did not immediately give any specifics.

Headley said that when Lashkar leaders began talking about a possible attack in India, he suggested that he get involved.

“I suggested that I change my name and make a new passport to make it easy to enter India undetected,” Headley testified.

Earlier Monday, attorneys painted dueling portraits of Rana, 50, who has pleaded not guilty.

Defense attorneys said their client was simply taken advantage of by his longtime friend and did not know what was in store. Headley and Rana, a Pakistani-born Canadian who has lived in Chicago for years, met at one of Pakistan’s most prestigious military boarding schools and stayed in touch as adults.

Defense attorney Charles Swift told jurors during opening statements that Headley, a Pakistani-American, was a “manipulative man” who “balanced multiple lives” including working for Laskhar-e-Taiba, Pakistani intelligence and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration at the same time.

“David Headley ... has been manipulating people for years. Dr. Rana is by far and away not the first,” Swift said during opening statements.

But Assistant U.S. Attorney Sarah Streicker said Rana was not duped and knew of the plans. She said Rana provided cover for Headley and led him to pose as a representative for his Chicago-based immigration business. She also said Rana knew and supported a separate plot that never happened against a Danish newspaper that had printed cartoons of the Prophet Muhammad and that Rana and Headley had talked about at least four other plots. She gave no further details.

 

[Nothing]

Wahi old story again and again................move on Indians do something else.

Like you guys, moving after each terrorist attack in Pakistan and what they are doing it again ......

No we can't ..we do understand that it was attack on our country and we will bring justice to those 176 people who died by hands of those dirt bags. To show our might to those who are still wet dreaming to do it again ..

 

[ares]

Wahi old story again and again................move on Indians do something else.

I am sorry... we are not as forgiving as you people ..you guys can move on from one terrorist attack to another..as if nothing happened ..without bringing those responsible to justice..but for us terrorism is a big deal!! and we do not share your dismissive attitude towards it.

 

[53fd]

What's new?

 

[Nothing]

What's new?

Some more loud proofs of involvement of ISI directly or indirectly and proof that LeT (Based in Pakistan) is involved in this ...

and in something new ..
oohh yes... Attack on PNS Mehran Base

 

[S.M.R]

I am sorry... we are not as forgiving as you people ..you guys can move on from one terrorist attack to another..as if nothing happened ..without bringing those responsible to justice..but for us terrorism is a big deal!! and we do not share your dismissive attitude towards it.

You have kasab in ur custody, why dont u just hang him. You people have failed to achieve the ultimate objective of arresting him alive, no sufficient proof has been given so far for involvement of pakistani establishment, blades, shaving cream etc are not sufficient. Get a life.

 

[Ganga]

You have kasab in ur custody, why dont u just hang him. You people have failed to achieve the ultimate objective of arresting him alive, no sufficient proof has been given so far for involvement of pakistani establishment, blades, shaving cream etc are not sufficient. Get a life.

He has been awarded the death sentence.He will be hanged when his turn comes.Currently there are some 50 or so people before him in the death list.

Enough proof has been provided to Pakistan .The only problem is that there is no will to act against the perpetrators on the Pakistani side.

 

[RayBan]

blasphemy.

 

[Nothing]

He has been awarded the death sentence.He will be hanged when his turn comes.Currently there are some 50 or so people before him in the death list.

Enough proof has been provided to Pakistan .The only problem is that there is no will to act against the perpetrators on the Pakistani side.

Stop dreaming that Pakistan will even act against them .. they are not acting against those who are doing bomb blast in Pakistan like child use fire crackers in Diwali ..

 

[Eric89]

That guy is saying it loud about the involvement of ISI in Chicago court, you still want PROOF?? Which world you live in?

 

[ares]

You have kasab in ur custody, why dont u just hang him. You people have failed to achieve the ultimate objective of arresting him alive, no sufficient proof has been given so far for involvement of pakistani establishment, blades, shaving cream etc are not sufficient. Get a life.

Well perhaps you should follow the news more closely..We are not barbarians here, such that we can conduct summary executions at will ..just because emotions are running high..there is a due process of appeal involved after death sentence is given out.

More than enough proof of Pakistani involvement has been given..plus proof is pouring from all sides.. actually you are sitting on one(this particular news).

 

[S.M.R]

That guy is saying it loud about the involvement of ISI in Chicago court, you still want PROOF?? Which world you live in?

Ooh sorry i forgot that there are certain other things which tantamount to proof, other than treet blade, these include:
1. It is Said in US court;
2. It is said very loudly;
Yeah man you are right, you caught me.