ISI provides financial, military support to LeT, JeM: David Headley

He further revealed that he was also working for ISI and had met people from the Pakistan Army

Pakistan's intelligence agency ISI provides "financial, military and moral support" to terror outfits LeT, Jaish-e-Mohammad and Hizbul Mujahideen, Pakistan- born terrorist David Coleman Headley said today as he revealed more startling details about 26/11 attacks and his role it.

Headley, while testifying before a court here for the second day via video-link from the US, said he was working for the Pakistan Army and ISI besides LeT (Lashkar-e-Taiba), and that he knew about ISI official Brigadier Riyaz being the handler of LeT commander Zaki-ur-Rehman Lakhvi, who was key man responsible for the November 26,2008 attacks in Mumbai.

He also revealed that LeT had planned an attack at a conference of Indian defence scientists at Taj Mahal Hotel a year before the 26/11 strikes and had even prepared its dummy.

But the plan was dropped because of logistical reasons, like difficulty in smuggling in weapons and personal, added to failure of knowing the schedule of the meet, he said.

Headley, who had visited India seven times to scout for targets, said he had also conducted a recce of the famous Siddhivinayak Temple and Naval air station.

"I was also working for ISI and had met many people from the Pakistan Army," he told the Special Judge G A Sanap.

He said his assessment was that ISI and LeT were coordinating with each other.

"ISI provided financial, military and moral support to terror outfits Jaish-e-Mohammed, LeT and Hizbul Mujaideen," he said and went on to claim that his opinion was formed on the basis of hearsay.

When Special Public Prosecutor Ujjwal Nikam asked him if he was paid by LeT and ISI, he replied in the negative and said, "There is no basis for this question."

Headley, who had yesterday told the court that he was a "true follower" of LeT, today said ISI official Brigadier Riyaz was the handler of Zaki-ur-Rehman Lakhvi. When shown a photograph of Lakhvi, the LeT operative identified him.

"In November-December 2007, the LeT held a meeting in Muzaffarabad (in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir) which was attended by (LeT operatives) Sajid Mir and Abu Kahfa. In this meeting, it was decided that terror attacks would be conducted in Mumbai," he said.

Prior to November 2007, he said, the targets in Mumbai had not been decided.