CHICAGO : The federal government’s key witness in the trial of a Chicago businessman accused in the 2008 Mumbai attacks testified yesterday that he started his training more than a decade ago with a Pakistani militant group that received assistance from the country’s main intelligence agency.The trial of businessman Tahawwur Rana is being closely watched worldwide for what testimony might reveal about suspected links between the Pakistani militant group blamed in the rampage on India’s largest city and the intelligence agency, which has come under increased scrutiny since Osama bin Laden was killed by US forces on May 2 outside Islamabad.Of particular interest is the government’s first and main witness, David Coleman Headley, who is cooperating with prosecutors after pleading guilty to taking photos and videos of targets in Mumbai before the rampage that killed 160 people including six Americans over three days.
Rana is accused of providing cover for Headley, his longtime friend from boarding school, by allowing him to use his Chicago-based immigration services business as a cover when he traveled to Mumbai to scout sites.
Headley, who wore a light blue golf shirt and dark windbreaker, told jurors he received weapons and leadership training with the Pakistani militant group Lashkar-e-Taiba since 2000 and it was his understanding that Lashkar and Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence agency, known as the ISI, helped each other.
“They coordinated with each other and ISI provided assistance to Lashkar,’’ said Headley, who spoke in a soft voice and with a slight British accent. He did not immediately give any specifics.
Headley said when Lashkar leaders began talking about a possible attack in India, he suggested that he get involved. Before moving to Mumbai in late 2006, Headley said he first came to Chicago, met with Rana, and explained the plot in hopes of persuading Rana to let him open a branch of his immigration services business as a cover.
“I knew my friend had an office and I could persuade him to help us out,’’ Headley told jurors.
Headley described how once in Mumbai, he spent many hours doing surveillance including taking video of the Taj hotel and other sites. He also said he traveled frequently between India and Pakistan, where he met with a man by the name of “Major Iqbal,’’ who was described as working for the ISI, and another man named Sajid Mir, who was described as Headley’s Lashkar handler. He said the two men were in communication with each other.
Attention to the trial in Chicago’s federal court has increased in recent weeks, especially amid questions about whether the ISI had knowledge of bin Laden’s whereabouts. Security has been tightened, with more armed guards and a metal detector outside the courtroom.
“Headley’s testimony is a nail in the coffin of US-Pakistani strategic cooperation,’’ said Bruce Riedel, a former White House adviser on Middle Eastern and South Asian issues. “Until now his commentary has gotten very little attention outside India. Now it will finally get the attention it deserves here.’’
But some analysts are doubtful the trial will reveal much new. For one, federal prosecutors may work hard to keep any sensitive information from surfacing in the courtroom, and Headley’s credibility has been under question.
Headley, born Daood Gilani, reached a plea deal with prosecutors in the terrorism case in exchange for avoiding the death penalty and avoiding extradition. He has also been an informant for the Drug Enforcement Administration.
Rana, 50, has pleaded not guilty. His name is the seventh one on the federal indictment, and the only defendant in custody.
Earlier yesterday, attorneys painted opposing portraits of Rana, a Pakistani-born Canadian who has lived in Chicago for years. Defense attorneys said their client was simply taken advantage of by his friend and did not know what was in store. But Assistant US Attorney Sarah Streicker said Rana was not duped and knew of the plans.
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