New Delhi: Asserting that there is nothing new in what 26/11 accused David Coleman Headley had told special Mumbai court via video conferencing from US, former Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) chief A.S. Dulat on Monday expressed doubt about whether Pakistan would accept Headley’s deposition as it was made under the influence of the American authorities.
“His deposition is significant, but I don’t think he will be able to tell anything new. He will give out details, but his links with the ISI and that ISI and the LeT were collectively responsible for 26/11 is known to the world. He was not only an ISI agent, but a double agent,” Dulat told ANI.
“Pakistan has heavy blinkers on this issue. They will say that these things won’t stand in a court of law. They will say that his (Headley) statements have been made under American laws, which are not applicable in Pakistan,” he added.
He, however, welcomed Headley’s decision to name the ISI openly.
“It is good that he is now openly naming the ISI. The Americans have forced him to say it. What he is saying is the truth. Even our people have spoken with him,” he said.
Headley, one of the main conspirators in the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks, deposed as a witness in the case and admitted that he had come to the city with a false identity at the behest of his colleague and handler Sajid Mir, a Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) operative.
Headley further admitted that he was a true follower of the LeT and had changed his name from Dawood Gilani to David Coleman Headley for the purpose of acquiring a new passport to come to India. He said he had visited Mumbai seven times prior to the attacks on November 26, 2008. He even visited Delhi in March 2009 after the attacks.
During his deposition, he also named some Pakistan Army officials and the ISI officials. ANI)