Pakistani-American David Coleman Headley had participated in terror camps being run by LeT in Pakistan despite promises by the then President Parvez Musharraf in 2002 to the Bush Administration that all such facilities will be shut down.
Headley, a LeT operative arrested in October 2009 by the FBI, had attended five such training camps run by the terror outfit between 2002-03, according to a Headley’s plea agreement document which was submitted by US Attorney, Patrick J FitzGerald before a Chicago court on Thursday.
He attended a three-week course starting in February 2002 that provided indoctrination on the merits of waging jihad, next he participated in a three-week course starting in August 2002 to get training in the use of weapons and grenades
Headley learnt about close combat tactics, the use of weapons and grenades and survival skills during a three—month course in starting April 2003; he got training about the counter—surveillance skills starting August 2003 and starting December 2003 he received combat and tactical training.
Notably in January 2002, Gen. Musharraf had said that he would not allow LeT to carry any anti-India activities inside Pakistan.
But LeT ran terrorist training camps unabated even as Gen. Musharraf conducted back channel negotiations with India on the resolution of the Kashmir problem between 2002—2006, the agreement said.
Starting in or about August 2002, defendant (Headley) attended a three-week course and received training in, among other skills, the use of weapons and grenades. Starting in or about April 2003, defendant attended a three—month course and received training in various skills, including, but not limited to, close combat tactics, the use weapons and grenades, and survival skills,” the agreement said.
“Starting in or around August 2003, defendant attended a three—week course and received training in, among other skills, counter—surveillance. Starting in or around December 2003, defendant attended an approximately three month course and received combat and tactical training,” it said .
Headley had pleaded guilty on all 12 counts of charges against him in a Chicago court.
The plea agreement also proves beyond doubt the direct connection between LeT and Al Qaeda.
According to it, a retired Pakistani Major, Abdur Rehman Hashim Syed (Abdur Rehman), also known as “Pasha,” told Headley that if LeT did not help him in carrying out attack against the Danish newspaper, he would get someone else.
Although not identified by name at the time, Headley later learnt this individual to be co-defendant Ilyas Kashmiri.
Abdur Rehman previously had told Headley that he had been working with Kashmiri and that Kashmiri was in direct contact with a senior leader of “Al Qaeda”, the agreement said.
“Pasha stated to defendant (Headley) words to the effect that if ‘Lashkar’ did not go through with the attack, Pasha knew someone who would. Although not identified by name at the time, defendant later learned this individual to be co-defendant Ilyas Kashmiri.
“Pasha previously had stated to defendant that he had been working with Kashmiri and that Kashmiri was in direct contact with a senior leader for Al Qaeda,” the Plea Agreement said.
