Headley disclosures to add to already fraught US-Pak ties:CRS
The public deposition by Mumbai attacks accused David Headley about the involvement of the Pakistan's spy agency ISI in the 26/11 strikes would add to the already fraught US-Pak relationship.
By PTI |
WASHINGTON: The public deposition by Mumbai attacks accused David Headley about the involvement of the Pakistan's spy agency ISI in the 26/11 strikes would add to the already fraught US-Pak relationship at a time when the ISI-CIA ties are at a nadir, a Congressional report has said.
"On May 16, a Chicago court began hearing testimony in Tahawwur Rana's trial (who is charged with providing material support to Mumbai attackers). Three senior members of the Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba terror group are also indicted in the case -- LeT chief Hafiz Saeed among them -- along with a purported ISI officer identified as Major Iqbal," said the Congressional Research Service in a report.
"Headley is set to be the prosecution's star witness and is expected to detail links between the ISI and terrorism, and so potentially add to already fraught US-Pakistan relations and suspicions about official Pakistani involvement in supporting Islamist militancy," said the report.
During questioning by both the prosecution and the defense, Headley said that he was trained in terrorism and espionage operations against India by the ISI and its officials were involved in the planning and execution of the Mumbai terror attacks. Pakistan has denied all such charges.
In 2009, federal prosecutors charged David Headley with traveling to Mumbai five times from 2006 to 2008 as scout for the attack by the LeT; he subsequently pleaded guilty to the charges.
"Headley's case is perhaps the first in which a former Pakistani military officer has been directly linked to terrorism suspects in the United States. Headley and another Pakistan-born Chicagoan, Tahawwur Rana, are believed to have reported to Abdur Rehman, a retired Pakistani major suspected of being an LeT contact," CRS said.
"On May 16, a Chicago court began hearing testimony in Tahawwur Rana's trial (who is charged with providing material support to Mumbai attackers). Three senior members of the Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba terror group are also indicted in the case -- LeT chief Hafiz Saeed among them -- along with a purported ISI officer identified as Major Iqbal," said the Congressional Research Service in a report.
"Headley is set to be the prosecution's star witness and is expected to detail links between the ISI and terrorism, and so potentially add to already fraught US-Pakistan relations and suspicions about official Pakistani involvement in supporting Islamist militancy," said the report.
During questioning by both the prosecution and the defense, Headley said that he was trained in terrorism and espionage operations against India by the ISI and its officials were involved in the planning and execution of the Mumbai terror attacks. Pakistan has denied all such charges.
In 2009, federal prosecutors charged David Headley with traveling to Mumbai five times from 2006 to 2008 as scout for the attack by the LeT; he subsequently pleaded guilty to the charges.
"Headley's case is perhaps the first in which a former Pakistani military officer has been directly linked to terrorism suspects in the United States. Headley and another Pakistan-born Chicagoan, Tahawwur Rana, are believed to have reported to Abdur Rehman, a retired Pakistani major suspected of being an LeT contact," CRS said.
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