Was asked to gather intelligence, recruit spies from Indian Army: Headley to court

Mumbai: Pakistani-American terrorist and 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks convict David Coleman Headley on Tuesday continued his deposition for the second consecutive day before a court in Mumbai.

Headley told court that Major Iqbal of Pakistan's Inter-State Intelligence service told him to infiltrate Indian Army, gather intelligence and recruit spies from Army.

Headley, appearing from an undisclosed location via video conferencing, continued to spill the beans on Lashkar-e-Toiba, ISI's involvement with the 26/11 terror attacks.

Special Public Prosecutor Ujjwal Nikam questioned Headley about Abdul Rehman alias Major Pasha to which he replied that he knew him.

Pasha was a retired major in Pakistan army when he got in touch with him. He was associated with LeT and involved in giving weapons training to cadres and subsequently joined al-Qaeda.

Headley also told court that his wife Fazia had registered a police complaint against him in Pakistan.

Headley added that he had suggested that LeT's chief Hafiz Saeed must consider challenging US decision to ban the organisation as a terror outfit to which the latter replied that they must ask ISI on what action should be taken.

In his first deposition on Monday, Headley told the court that Pakistani terrorists attempted to attack Mumbai twice before the 26/11 strikes that killed 166 people but failed both times.

Describing himself as a "true follower of LeT", Headley also admitted that he joined the ranks of LeT after getting "influenced and motivated" by the speeches of terrorist outfit's founder Hafiz Saeed.

Headley, who is serving 35-year prison sentence in the US for his role in the Mumbai attacks, spoke about the role of Saeed, another LeT commander Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi as well as his handler in the outfit Sajid Mir.