LeT knew Pak probe would be superficial, says Headley

Mumbai, February 13

Lashkar-e-Toiba and al-Qaida were convinced that 26/11 attack masterminds Hafiz Saeed and Zakiur Rehman would face only “superficial” action from the Pakistan authorities and within months plans were afoot for another terror strike in India, Pakistan-American terrorist David Coleman Headley said today.

Headley, who is serving a 35-year jail term in the US in connection with the 26/11 case, said this before a special court here via video link from the US during his deposition which concluded today.

The 55-year-old LeT operative told Special Judge GA Sanap that after the Mumbai attacks, he was concerned about the safety of Saeed and Lakhvi and hence was in constant touch with LeT operative Sajid Mir, who was his handler, and al-Qaida member Abdul Rehman Pasha (former LeT cadre).

“The FIA (Federal Investigating Agency of Pakistan) was conducting investigations, interrogating people and pursuing people from LeT. Hence I asked Mir about ‘old uncle’ (Saeed) and ‘young uncle’ (Lakhvi). Mir, in his reply, said young uncle is fine and flying high. I think by this Mir meant that Lakhvi’s morale was high even though he was in prison at that time,” Headley said. — PTI