Headley names Mumbai terror attacks mastermind Hafiz Saeed, ISI in court

Former FBI agent and Lashkar operative David Headley said to a special Mumbai court on Monday that his Lashkar "colleague" Sajid Mir was his main contact in the terror outfit.

Acting on Mir's instructions, Headley changed his name from Dawood Gilani to David Headley. He then applied for a U.S. passport with the changed name.

Headley testified that he wanted a changed name and new passport in order to enter India. "So that I could enter with an American name and to conceal my identity," he said deposing before special judge G.A. Sanap via video conferencing from an undisclosed location in the U.S.

Headley also said that Mir told him to go to India and set up an office in order to settle in India. He was also told to make "a general video of the city of Mumbai."

Accordingly, Headley came to India on eight occasions. Seven of the eight times he visited Mumbai, directly from Pakistan.

Headley also testified to making a visa application with false details for protecting his cover in India.

Headley recognised Jamaat-ud-Dawah (JuD) chief and Mumbai attack mastermind Hafiz Saeed's photograph and ISI in the court.

"Lashkar-e-Taiba is a militant organisation in Pakistan, whose goal is to fight the Indian Army and assist the people of Kashmir. They carry out all the terror activities in India, " Headley told the court.

I joined Lashkar in 2002 for a course in Muzaffarabad, Lashkar's headquarters. I heard a speech by Hafiz Saeed saab and was motivated," said Headley during the deposition.

Headley also testified using multiple email ids to create deception.

LeT made two unsuccessful attempts to carry out terror attacks before finally striking in November 2008, once in September and another in October.

He also added that the same ten people who were involved in the 26/11 attacks made two previous failed attempts on Mumbai.

" I was arrested in Landi Kotal in FATA area of Pakistan on suspicion of being foreigner as foreigners are not allowed there. But I had a Pakistani identity card. Major Ali came to interrogate me. He is from ISI. He introduced me to Major Iqbal of ISI, because he thought I could be used in India for some intelligence work," said Headley.

The court began recording his statement at 7.10 a.m. The deposition will continue till 12.30 pm.

In 2010, Headley was arrested by the U.S. authorities and he confessed to them about his role in the 26/11 attacks. In 2013, a U.S. court sentenced him to 35 years’ imprisonment for a dozen federal terrorism crimes related to his role in the Mumbai attacks, including conducting reconnaissance of target locations. Posing as an American, he made five extended trips to Mumbai — in September 2006, February and September 2007, and April and July 2008 — each time making videotapes of various potential targets, including those attacked in November 2008. After these trips he travelled to Pakistan to meet Lashkar members and hand over his surveillance material.

Another alleged Lashkar handler Syed Zabiuddin Ansari alias Abu Jundal is also facing trial in the case. He is lodged at the Arthur Road jail.