Sunday, March 25, 2012
Nirupama presses U.S. on 26/11 probe
Even as Jamat-ud-Dawa chief and alleged Mumbai terror attacks mastermind Hafiz Saeed has continued to address political rallies with an anti-India tenor, the Government of India is quietly pursuing back-channel means to bring suspects in the November 2008 attacks to book via discussions with law enforcement authorities in the United States.
The Indian embassy in Washington said in a statement that Ambassador Nirupama Rao held a meeting with U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder on February 21 at the U.S. Department of Justice, and a key issue discussed was cooperation between the two nations on investigation into the Mumbai attacks.
Underscoring the crucial importance of such cooperation, Ms. Rao expressed hope that a few important aspects of India’s request for assistance in this regard would be fulfilled soon, the embassy said, adding that “This assumes importance in view of the need of bringing the main culprits to book without delay.”
Mr. Holder, the statement noted, had assured that all possible assistance “within the framework of U.S. law” would be provided in this regard and more generally he underscored the importance that the U.S. attached to counterterrorism cooperation with India.
The allusion to U.S. assistance necessarily remaining within the confines of U.S. law gains salience in the context of the interrogation of David Coleman Headley, the Pakistani-American accused of planning and conducting reconnaissance for the terror attacks, and providing material support to the group behind the attacks, Lashkar-e-Taiba.
While India has in the past pressed the U.S. for further access to Headley for questioning, the U.S. has courted controversy by delaying such access and limiting it in certain regards, including on the Indian government’s request to have Headley extradited to India. During last year’s hearings in the case, Headley’s testimony in a Chicago court revealed further linkages between LeT and certain elements connected to the Pakistani intelligence services.
The Indian embassy in Washington said in a statement that Ambassador Nirupama Rao held a meeting with U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder on February 21 at the U.S. Department of Justice, and a key issue discussed was cooperation between the two nations on investigation into the Mumbai attacks.
Underscoring the crucial importance of such cooperation, Ms. Rao expressed hope that a few important aspects of India’s request for assistance in this regard would be fulfilled soon, the embassy said, adding that “This assumes importance in view of the need of bringing the main culprits to book without delay.”
Mr. Holder, the statement noted, had assured that all possible assistance “within the framework of U.S. law” would be provided in this regard and more generally he underscored the importance that the U.S. attached to counterterrorism cooperation with India.
The allusion to U.S. assistance necessarily remaining within the confines of U.S. law gains salience in the context of the interrogation of David Coleman Headley, the Pakistani-American accused of planning and conducting reconnaissance for the terror attacks, and providing material support to the group behind the attacks, Lashkar-e-Taiba.
While India has in the past pressed the U.S. for further access to Headley for questioning, the U.S. has courted controversy by delaying such access and limiting it in certain regards, including on the Indian government’s request to have Headley extradited to India. During last year’s hearings in the case, Headley’s testimony in a Chicago court revealed further linkages between LeT and certain elements connected to the Pakistani intelligence services.
Labels: 26/11 attacks, 26/11 probe, India-U.S. relations, Mumbai terror attacks
Saturday, November 05, 2011
For LeT, India remains the “primary target”: U.S.
From The Hindu
A report by the United States Department of Defence submitted to Congress this week suggested that India remained the “primary target” of LeT, the militant group from Pakistan that is held responsible for the 2008 Mumbai attacks.
This assessment, contained in the Report to Congress on U.S.-India Security Cooperation, was accompanied by strong arguments made in favour of deepening India-U.S. cooperation in the defence sector.
Key among these arguments was the suggestion that the U.S. ought to share “top-of-the-line technology” with India, as exemplified by the case of the U.S. Joint Strike Fighter programme. According to the DoD the JSF, also known as the F-35 Lightning II Programme, has advanced airframe, autonomic logistics, avionics, propulsion systems, stealth, and firepower, which will “ensure that the F-35 is the most affordable, lethal, supportable and survivable aircraft ever to be used by so many war-fighters across the globe.”
In this context the DoD report indicated that although the U.S.’ F-16 and F-18 were not down-selected, in the Medium Multi-Role Combat Aircraft (MMRCA) competition in April 2011, “Should India indicate interest in the JSF, the U.S. would be prepared to provide information on the JSF and its requirements... to support India’s future planning.”
In the vital area of counterterrorism cooperation the DoD report noted that LeT’s activities “continue to threaten U.S. interests and South Asian regional stability,” and hence the U.S. would join with key partners such as India, “to expand counterterrorism cooperation... and our current special operations engagements in the region will continue to focus on the mutually beneficial ways in which we can enhance each other’s capabilities.”
In addition to expanding defence trade and armaments cooperation the DoD report argued that there was a continuing case for bolstering military-to-military engagements. In addition to counterterrorism cooperation this imperative would require continued focus on combined exercises, personnel exchanges and training, maritime domain awareness, countering piracy humanitarian assistance, disaster response and relief and naval and coast guard cooperation, the report noted.
Labels: 26/11 attacks, India, Indo-U.S. relations, LeT, mumbai terror, primary target, U.S. Congress, U.S. State Department
Thursday, December 02, 2010
India was optimistic on Pak investigation of Mumbai attacks
From The Hindu
Scarcely three months after the Mumbai terror attacks, senior Indian officials expressed appreciation for the “remarkable” progress achieved with Pakistan in the context of the ensuing investigation.
The positive assessment of Pakistan’s contribution to the investigation, made by erstwhile Foreign Secretary Shivshankar Menon to the incoming United States Special Representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan, Richard Holbrook, was revealed by the WikiLeaks whistleblower website. WikiLeaks began publicly publishing over 250,000 private State Department cables since the weekend.
Meeting with Mr. Holbrooke shortly after he assumed his role in January, Mr. Menon also sought to dispel reports of growing concerns in India that Mr. Holbrooke’s mandate included the Kashmir question. According to the cable Mr. Menon said the Indian government was aware of the “suspicions the media had created”, in this regard and he emphasised that “India has a huge stake” in Mr. Holbrooke’s success and promised to say so publicly.
On Pakistan’s role in investigating the Mumbai attacks, Mr. Menon had said at a media briefing in early January 2009, “Nobody has told us [about persons arrested in the case] officially yet from Pakistan... We have seen a similar thing when [Lashkar-e-Taiba] was declared a terrorist organisation after the attack on the Indian Parliament in December 2001. And within three months, they were back in business... So, frankly, what we have seen so far does not impress us.”
“Positive track”
However, in the meeting with Mr. Holbrooke, described in a U.S. embassy cable addressed to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and dated February 17, 2009, Mr. Menon described it as being on a “positive track” and said, “We haven’t reached the point of no return yet” for the Pakistani government to positively conclude the investigation.
He did note that Pakistan had further to go to bring the perpetrators of the attack to justice, speculating, for example, that many of the “30 questions” submitted by Pakistan were added post-investigation in response to domestic pressures. He also cautioned Mr. Holbrooke about the possibility that, similar to the Daniel Pearl case, the investigation could “recede when public pressure wanes.”
Using the opportunity to press the U.S. to exercise its influence, “"where it matters most”, Mr. Menon argued that most of the problems in Pakistan could be traced to the capacity and intentions of Pakistan’s military. These ought to be redirected from east to west and the military must also “cut its links to jihadi organisations” that had gone global over the past five years, he said.
Indian role in Afghanistan
In the conversation described by the cable, it was clear that Mr. Menon drew attention to India’s role in Afghanistan, in particular confiding in Mr. Holbrooke that India planned to tell Afghan Lower House Speaker Mohammad Yunis Qanuni, who was then in New Delhi, that wrangling over an exact date for the election should not be allowed “to bring the house down”.
To do so would only be in the Taliban’s interest, Mr. Menon added, and in reply, Mr. Holbrooke urged Mr. Menon to tell Mr. Qanuni to accept the August 20 election date. Mr. Menon also hinted that Iran ought to be included in a Core Group of countries consulting on Afghanistan. He further added that Iran had been “signalling to India” for four months that it was not interested in having China participate in such a group.
During their meeting Mr. Menon also debriefed Mr. Holbrooke on his attempts, during his time as Pakistan High Commissioner, to explain to President Pervez Musharraf exactly what India was doing in Afghanistan; but Pakistani officials, “not just Musharraf — have avoided it in every way,” Mr. Menon said.
Labels: 26/11 attacks, cablegate, mumbai terror, Pakistan Army, Richard Holbrooke, Shiv Shankar Menon, Wikileaks
Thursday, November 25, 2010
U.S. honours Mumbai attack victims: Clinton
From The Hindu
United States Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said that the American people stood in solidarity with the people of India and honoured those who lost their lives in the Mumbai terror attacks exactly two years ago.
In a statement marking the second anniversary of the attack, in which ten militants went on a commando-style killing spree that claimed over 160 lives, Ms. Clinton said, “As the people of the U.S. gather with family to celebrate Thanksgiving, we pause to remember the horrific attack on innocent men, women, and children that occurred in Mumbai two years ago.”
Reflecting on President Barack Obama’s visit to India earlier this month she said that it underscored the two nations’ shared belief in liberty, democracy, and mutual respect for all people.
Ms. Clinton added that as the people of Mumbai gathered in temples, mosques, churches, gurdwaras, and synagogues to honour those who perished on November 26, 2008, “They send a message of resolve, resilience, and mutual respect that is far louder and more powerful than any terrorist's guns and bombs.”
Labels: 26/11 anniversary, 26/11 attacks, Mumbai terror attack
Monday, April 05, 2010
India access to Headley “down to logistics”
From The Hindu
The question of providing Indian authorities with access to terror suspect David Coleman Headley is now “down to logistics,” a spokesman for the Federal Bureau of Investigation said today.
Speaking to The Hindu, Special Agent Ross Rice of the Chicago FBI said, “As per his plea agreement Mr. Headley has agreed to cooperate with U.S. and other authorities. If he does not do so, it will be a violation of his plea agreement and his case will then go back to the courts for further review.”
Mr. Rice suggested that the plea agreement worked both ways: “The plea agreement requires Mr. Headley to do certain things, including cooperate with the authorities. It also requires U.S. authorities to do certain things.” He implied that Mr. Headley would need to continue sharing information if he wished to see the U.S. government hold up its end of the bargain.
Mr. Rice confirmed that discussions for providing Indian authorities with access to Mr. Headley were underway and U.S. authorities were hopeful that this would happen in due course. He added, “It is simply down to deciding when, and where, who from the Indian side would be present, whether it would be with Mr. Headley’s attorneys present, whether U.S. authorities would be present and so forth.”
When the logistics for any interviews with Mr. Headley were finalised it would not be announced to the public in any case, due to security concerns, Mr. Rice said.
Labels: 26/11 attacks, David Headley, India, mumbai terror, terrorism, U.S.
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
Headley does a u-turn on plea
In this Dec. 9, 2009 file courtroom drawing shows David Coleman Headley, left, pleads not guilty before U.S. District Judge Harry Leinenweber in Chicago to charges that accuse him of conspiring in the deadly 2008 terrorist attacks in the Indian city of Mumbai and of planning to launch an armed assault on a Danish newspaper. (AP Photo/Verna Sadock, File)
From The Hindu
David Coleman Headly, accused of doing the background planning for the Mumbai terror attacks of 2008, will change his plea to guilty on federal charges, a United States district court said.
Mr. Headley originally pleaded not guilty to 12 charges in connection to attacks in India; he is further charged with a plot to attack Jyllands-Posten, a Danish newspaper that published cartoons depicting the Prophet Muhammed — which however did not take place. Mr. Headley was arrested by FBI agents in Chicago in October while trying to board a plane for Philadelphia.
In a one-paragraph filing the court today said that Headley is scheduled for a change-of-plea hearing on Thursday before United States District Judge Harry Leinenweber. However the filing offered no further clarifications with regards to which charges Headley would change his plea for.
Reports quoted John Theis, Headley’s lawyer as saying that he and Headley “have been in discussions with the government” and Thursday’s action would reflect the results.
PTI adds
The son of a Pakistani diplomat and a Philadelphia socialite, Headley had so far pleaded not guilty to the charges and has remained in federal custody at the Metropolitan Correctional Centre here since he was arrested in October 2009.
John Theis, Headley’s lawyer, refused to give any details when asked whether a plea deal has been worked out for Headley, who has been “cooperating in the ongoing investigation“.
If convicted, Headley faces maximum penalty of life imprisonment or death.
Mr. Theis said: "We have had discussions with the government regarding the plea bargain. We are working on it and we expect there will be a plea agreement."
However, Headley’s cooperation in the investigation is seen as a way to escape death penalty.
Spokesman for Chicago U.S. Attorney Patrick J. Fitzgerald, Randall Samborn said Headley would be present in court for the March 18 hearing.
Mr. Samborn too declined to comment on what charges Headley would be pleading guilty to.
In the 12 count indictment, Headley, a 49 year old Chicago resident, faces six counts of conspiracy involving bombing public places in India, murdering and maiming persons in India and Denmark, providing material support to foreign terrorist plots, providing material support to Lashkar and six counts of aiding and abetting the murder of U.S. citizens in India.
The FBI had also charged Headley’s friend from a Pakistani military school, city-businessman Tahawwur Hussain Rana with providing material support to the Mumbai attacks as well as to the terrorist organisation LeT.
Pakistani-Canadian Rana has pleaded not guilty to the charges and said that he was duped by Headley.
Rana has been denied bail by the court and is held at the Correctional centre since his October arrest. A hearing for his case has been set for March 29.
Headley was first arrested in 1998 for conspiring to smuggle heroin into the U.S. from Pakistan. However, after his arrest he cooperated with the investigation, giving information about his involvement in drug trafficking and his Pakistani suppliers.
Due to his cooperation, he was sentenced to less than two years in prison and shortly thereafter went to Pakistan to conduct undercover surveillance operations for the Drug Enforcement Administration.
In 2002 and 2003, Headley allegedly attended terrorism training camps in Pakistan maintained by Lashkar and conspired with its members and others, including co-accused Rana, Ilyas Kashmiri and Abdur Rehman in planning and executing the attacks on India and a Danish newspaper.
He conducted extensive surveillance of targets in Mumbai between September 2006 and July 2008, taking photographs and making videotapes of various potential targets, including those attacked in the November 2008 attacks that killed approximately 164 people and left hundreds more injured.
After every trip to India, Headley allegedly travelled to Pakistan to share videos and photographs of the targets in India with Lashkar members.
David Coleman Headly, accused of doing the background planning for the Mumbai terror attacks of 2008, will change his plea to guilty on federal charges, a United States district court said.
Mr. Headley originally pleaded not guilty to 12 charges in connection to attacks in India; he is further charged with a plot to attack Jyllands-Posten, a Danish newspaper that published cartoons depicting the Prophet Muhammed — which however did not take place. Mr. Headley was arrested by FBI agents in Chicago in October while trying to board a plane for Philadelphia.
In a one-paragraph filing the court today said that Headley is scheduled for a change-of-plea hearing on Thursday before United States District Judge Harry Leinenweber. However the filing offered no further clarifications with regards to which charges Headley would change his plea for.
Reports quoted John Theis, Headley’s lawyer as saying that he and Headley “have been in discussions with the government” and Thursday’s action would reflect the results.
PTI adds
The son of a Pakistani diplomat and a Philadelphia socialite, Headley had so far pleaded not guilty to the charges and has remained in federal custody at the Metropolitan Correctional Centre here since he was arrested in October 2009.
John Theis, Headley’s lawyer, refused to give any details when asked whether a plea deal has been worked out for Headley, who has been “cooperating in the ongoing investigation“.
If convicted, Headley faces maximum penalty of life imprisonment or death.
Mr. Theis said: "We have had discussions with the government regarding the plea bargain. We are working on it and we expect there will be a plea agreement."
However, Headley’s cooperation in the investigation is seen as a way to escape death penalty.
Spokesman for Chicago U.S. Attorney Patrick J. Fitzgerald, Randall Samborn said Headley would be present in court for the March 18 hearing.
Mr. Samborn too declined to comment on what charges Headley would be pleading guilty to.
In the 12 count indictment, Headley, a 49 year old Chicago resident, faces six counts of conspiracy involving bombing public places in India, murdering and maiming persons in India and Denmark, providing material support to foreign terrorist plots, providing material support to Lashkar and six counts of aiding and abetting the murder of U.S. citizens in India.
The FBI had also charged Headley’s friend from a Pakistani military school, city-businessman Tahawwur Hussain Rana with providing material support to the Mumbai attacks as well as to the terrorist organisation LeT.
Pakistani-Canadian Rana has pleaded not guilty to the charges and said that he was duped by Headley.
Rana has been denied bail by the court and is held at the Correctional centre since his October arrest. A hearing for his case has been set for March 29.
Headley was first arrested in 1998 for conspiring to smuggle heroin into the U.S. from Pakistan. However, after his arrest he cooperated with the investigation, giving information about his involvement in drug trafficking and his Pakistani suppliers.
Due to his cooperation, he was sentenced to less than two years in prison and shortly thereafter went to Pakistan to conduct undercover surveillance operations for the Drug Enforcement Administration.
In 2002 and 2003, Headley allegedly attended terrorism training camps in Pakistan maintained by Lashkar and conspired with its members and others, including co-accused Rana, Ilyas Kashmiri and Abdur Rehman in planning and executing the attacks on India and a Danish newspaper.
He conducted extensive surveillance of targets in Mumbai between September 2006 and July 2008, taking photographs and making videotapes of various potential targets, including those attacked in the November 2008 attacks that killed approximately 164 people and left hundreds more injured.
After every trip to India, Headley allegedly travelled to Pakistan to share videos and photographs of the targets in India with Lashkar members.
Labels: 26/11 attacks, Chicago court, David Headley, mumbai terror
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