David Headley wanted LeT to drag US to court

After the US government declared the Lashkar-e-Tayyaba (LeT) as a terrorist organisation, David Headley had suggested to his bosses in the LeT to drag the US government to court. In his statement before the Mumbai court, Headley said that though LeT chief Hafiz Saeed had liked the idea, Zaki-ur-Rehman Lakhvi was not in favour of it as it would have been time-consuming. Lakhvi also did not want to act against the US government without a go-ahead from the ISI, Headley said.

He said that Saeed appreciated the idea but did not talk much about it but Lakhvi said it would be a very long process and they would be required to speak to Pakistani intelligence agencies like ISI before taking any call on such an issue.

Headley also said that many Pakistan-based terrorist organisations, including LeT, Jaish-e-Mohammed, Hizbul Mujahideen and Harkat-ul-Mujahideen are fighting against India under the United Jihad Council.

Headley also informed the court that one Bashir Shaikh, a friend of Dr Tahawwur Hussain Rana in Mumbai, had received him at Mumbai airport and arranged his first stay in Out Run Hotel. He dropped Headley at the hotel and left.

Headley also spoke about another Indian on Tuesday. He said he stayed as paying guest at the house of a woman, Meera Kriplani, near Breach Candy Hospital.

It may be recalled that so far only two Indians, Fahim Ansari and Sabauddin Ahmed, were prosecuted in the 26/11 case for helping conspirators but they were acquitted from all the charges in the case. Now, Abu Jundal is the only person who is facing trail in this case.

According to prosecution, Jundal was among the handlers who was issuing directions to attackers from Pakistan.