Headley asked ISI to help Rana get back to Pak: FBI

CHICAGO: LeT operative David Headley approached ISI to help another co-accused in Mumbai attacks Tahawwur Rana to get back to Pakistan, according to a video recording produced by FBI before a court here today.

Headley used his personal links to favour Rana, FBI agent Jeffrey Parsons said while deposing before the US District Court during the 26/11 trial which resumed after a five day break .

Parsons said he had interviewed Pakistani-Canadian Rana with another agent Benabides.

In the video shown in court, Rana said he thought Lashkar-e-Toiba does not know Headley is with the ISI.

Parsons also said that Rana mentioned his meeting with al Qaida commander Ilyas Kashmiri. He is believed to have been killed in a US drone attack in south Waziristan last week.

Rana, 50, had served in the Pakistani Army as a doctor. He served in the Gulf War in Saudi Arabia and got injured there and recuperated in Germany.

After that Rana was posted in the glacier region in Pakistan where he declined to go following which he was declared a deserter and was placed on the list of Absent Without Leave (AWOL).

As a result, Rana could not travel to Pakistan again. "Headley used his personal links to get me the favour", the FBI agent quoted Rana as stating.

During previous hearings Headley had testified that ISI was linked to the 2008 Mumbai terror strikes.

Rana's trial, which started on May 16 and was supposed to last till June 15, had been going faster than expected.

If convicted, Rana faces a possible life sentence.