Headley's deposition: Defence experts say ball in Pak court to act or not to act

The onus is on Pakistan to continue to remain in denial mode or to take action against the perpetrators of 26/11 post the revelations made by one of the jailed accused David Coleman Headley, said defence experts on Tuesday.

Major General P.K Sehgal (retired) said that based on Headley's revelation in the Mumbai special court with regard to the 26/11 terror attacks, Pakistan has two options - either to continue to be in denial mode, or take action against the perpetrators.

"His statements also corroborate what Kasab had indicated. Hence, the evidence is virtually clinching. Pakistan has only two options-continue to be on a denial mode, alternatively accept it and proceed against 26/11 perpetrators and handle as demanded by India, which will go a long way in bringing about a certain amount of cordiality in the proposed talks that are likely to take place between the foreign secretaries and the NSAs," Serhgal told ANI.

He further stated that Headley's statement would help India to nail Sayed Zabiuddin Ansari aka Abu Hamza aka Abu Jundal, the Indian national affiliated to the Indian Mujahideen and Lashkar-e-Taiba, as there is evidence against him.

"It gives a very major opportunity to Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's government to use this evidence to marginalise the army and the ISI to the extent visible and possible," he added.

Expressing similar sentiments, Major General S.R. Sinho (Retired) said, "There is evidence that 30 dossiers were earlier also provided regarding the Bombay blast to the Americans. Also, Hafiz Saeed is an international terrorist and prize has been declared by the Americans. But, Pakistan has been negating."

Sinho alleged that Pakistan is producing insurgents by not taking timely action.

"Even in Lakhvi's case also, it has been proved beyond doubts that he was also involved in the planning. But, the court in Pakistan has given a decision that his voice sample will not be given to India, because there is no clause in the Constitution or in their law. Pakistan is producing insurgence," he said.

Sinho said Pakistan won't take any action and India has to be prepared and draw a long-term strategy to deal with terrorist activities from across the border.

Deposing before a Mumbai court in connection with 26/11 Mumbai attacks that claimed 166 lives and left scores of people injured, Headley, named Major Ali and Major Iqbal of Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) and Lashkar commander Sajid Mir as his contacts in Pakistan.

He admitted that he had met both Lashkar-e-Taiba(LeT) commander Hafeez Saeed and then operational commander Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi.

He told the court that Lashkar had planned to attack at the Taj Mahal Hotel in Mumbai.

Headley described Lashkar as "a militant organisation in Pakistan whose goal is to fight the Indian Army and assist the people of Kashmir." Saeed and Zaki-ur-Rehman Lakhvi would give religious speeches and speak of 'jihad,' defined as "fight against enemies of Islam." They, Headley said, treated India as their enemy. (ANI)

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