Headley confession on Mumbai attack : Not a setback, says India

New Delhi has said Pakistani-American terrorist David Coleman Headley's confession that he planned the 26/11 Mumbai terror attack and his deal with US prosecutors was "not a setback to India".

Home minister P Chidambaram on Friday said New Delhi would "wait and see" and continue its case to extradite or get access to him. "It is not a setback. We have not yet charged Headley. We will charge Headley at an appropriate time," Chidambaram told reporters in New Delhi.. "We will continue with our extradition plea," he said after a Cabinet meeting presided over by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

"There is a good chance that he will testify in judicial proceedings where Indian (investigators) will have a right to question him," the Home Minister said. Headley, 49, also admitted that he attended training camps in Pakistan operated by Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) on five separate occasions between 2002 and 2005.

Headley can now be directly questioned by Indian investigators after his confession in a court in US to his involvement in the Mumbai terror attacks, although he will not be extradited to India.

External Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna said in an interview to Karan Thapar in the Devil’s Advocate programme on CNN-IBN the United States was honest and upfront in providing information on David Headley. “It goes without saying... I have no reservations,” Krishna said.

The Minister was asked if the U.S. was honest and upfront in providing information to India about David Headley, allegedly once a double agent. Asked if the U.S. was transparent on the Headley issue, Krishna said it was “reciprocating” in equal measure to fight terrorism.

Asked if India had raised the issue of the U.S. not informing Indian authorities about Headley’s visit to India in April 2009, the Minister said, “we have taken up all relevant issues with reference to Headley. Whatever has come to our knowledge through our media or whatever we hear from others, we have conveyed to the US.” Krishna said, “I have said the US is fighting the war on terror. We are on the same page as far as fighting terror is concerned.” The Minister added that India has asked for “certain reports” from the U.S. after they finish their investigations and interrogations in the Headley case.

Meanwhile, Home secretary G K Pillai said on Friday the Indian government will be "satisfied" if Headley is awarded a life sentence. "The US Attorney General has advised a sentence of life imprisonment. If he gets a sentence of life imprisonment, I don't think government of India will be unsatisfied," he said in New Delhi.

He said other details of his accessibility for questioning by India, interrogation or about giving testimony have to be worked out in the coming weeks. Pillai said, "All that we know is that he has pleaded guilty to all 12 counts which were charged against him. In one sense, that is good because that would ensure that he gets major sentencing."

Headley, a Pakistani-born US national, has entered a deal with prosecutors in a Chicago court that he won't be sentenced to death or extradited to India, Pakistan or Denmark after pleading guilty to terror charges.

Headley reveals Rana knew about the plot

David Headley, who has pleaded guilty to charges of plotting the Mumbai terror attack, has claimed that co-accused Tahawwur Hussain Rana too was involved in the conspiracy.

Contrary to Rana claims of not being aware of the conspiracy, Headley, in his plea agreement, has said he not only told the former about his Lashkar-e-Taiba membership but operation details of the audacious attack.

"In or around June 2006, defendant (Headley) travelled to Chicago and met with co-defendant Rana. Defendant advised co-defendant Rana of his assignment in India, and explained that opening an office for First World Immigration (a company run by Rana) would provide a cover story for his activities."

"Following defendant's explanation, Rana agreed to open an immigration office in Mumbai, India, and provide assistance to defendant's activities. At co-defendant Rana's direction, an individual associated with First World prepared documents to support defendant's cover story. Rana further advised defendant on how to obtain a visa for his travel to India," the plea agreement between Headley and the US government said.

It said after receiving Rana's approval, Headley travelled back to Pakistan and met with L the use of such a cover for his activities. "Defendant also showed them the visa that he had obtained with Rana's assistance," the agreement said.

It said Headley kept meeting Rana in between and updated him about his surveillance of possible terror targets including Taj Mahal hotels and landing sites for the terrorists. He also kept Rana informed about the reaction of his Pakistani handlers.

- Asian Tribune -