No difference between Pak's 'state and non-state actors': BJP

With David Coleman Headley continuing to spill the beans on LeT and the ISI's involvement in the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Tuesday said his statement establishes the fact that there is no difference between the state and non-state actors in Pakistan.

BJP leader Siddharthnath Singh said Headley's revelations have put Islamabad's sincerity on test as to whether they really want to fight against terrorism or do they still want to be in denial mode.

"I think David Headley's statement in the Mumbai court establishes many things, out of which two things stand out. There is no difference between the state and non-state actors which has been used as shield by the Pakistan Government," Singh told ANI.

"Second, now Pakistan's sincerity is on test. Which way they wish to go? Do they really want to fight against terrorism or do they still want to be in denial mode? It is a life testimony of the accused, who has been involved in 26/11. Therefore, it cannot be immediately denied by Pakistan," he added.

The BJP leader said that Pakistan needs to introspect Headley's revelations 'very seriously' and initiate action after admitting the same.

"They need to look it at very seriously. If they wish to do walk the talk, they must admit and take action. If they wish not to take action then India would be mounting pressure diplomatically as well as the foreign nations would also do the same," he said.

Echoing similar sentiments, BJP spokesperson Nalin Kohli said Headley's testimony reaffirms the well-known fact that there was a direct involvement of the ISI with the LeT.

"It is an important testimony. It reaffirms what is well known that there is a direct involvement of the ISI with the LeT and they together planned the horrific Mumbai attacks," BJP leader Nalin Kohli told ANI.

He also said that Pakistan has been so far looking for so called proof and added that what more evidences it needs to act when now the proofs are being provided.

Continuing his deposition for the second consecutive day before a court here, the Pakistani-American terrorist via video conferencing from an undisclosed location in the United States said he was asked by the ISI to recruit Indian army-men to spy for them.

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

Headley said that he also advised the mastermind of the Mumbai terror attack, Hafiz Saeed, and Zaki-ur Rehman Lakhvi to 'legally challenge' the US ban on Lashkar.

Headley testified for over five hours yesterday and described the role of ISI officers in collaborating with the Lashkar for the terror attack, which left 166 people dead in Mumbai.

In his first deposition yesterday, Headley said that Pakistani terrorists attempted to attack Mumbai twice before the 26/11 strike but failed both times.

Describing himself as a 'true follower' of the LeT, he also admitted during his examination by special public prosecutor Ujjwal Nikam that he joined the ranks of LeT after getting 'influenced and motivated' by the speeches of Hafiz Saeed.