With Pakistani-American Lashkar operative David Coleman Headley pleading guilty to all 12 charges, including his role in the 26/11 Mumbai attacks, India is now planning to step up pressure on Pakistan to act against those involved in the Mumbai attacks.
The Indian security establishment is of the view that Headley?s acceptance of the charges is unequivocal ratification of India?s stance relating to involvement of state and non-state actors based in Pakistan in terrorist activities in this country, especially the Mumbai attacks.
Indian officials were satisfied with the developments in the Chicago court because Headley agreed to ?fully and truthfully testify in any foreign judicial proceedings held in the US by way of deposition, video-conferencing or letters rogatory? but opinion was divided on whether this would translate into Indian sleuths getting access to Headley to interrogate him.
Sources said India would ?carefully examine? the US law to see if such a thing would be possible. ?All that I can say is that it is going to be long-drawn process,? said a senior official associated with the case.
But Headley?s lawyer John Theis told reporters in Chicago that his client ?has agreed to allow himself to be interviewed by foreign governments in this country? as part of the agreement. Not just this, he has also agreed to follow any directions by the office of US Attorney to ?fully and truthfully participate in any debriefings for the purpose of gathering intelligence or national security information?. Sources in the Indian establishment said they believed that Headley?s inputs would prove to be the clincher in India?s case against the Pakistan-based handlers of Mumbai attackers.
By agreeing to testify by video conferencing?something that is allowed in India under the Indian Evidence Act and the Criminal Procedure Code?Headley has provided Indian investigators the option to further strengthen their case against the still-at-large Pakistan handlers of 26/11 attackers.
While the plea bargain rules out his extradition to India to face trial for his role in the Mumbai attacks, Indian government officials say the Headley confession and the material evidence that he has supplied to the US investigators would go a long way in building a fool-proof case against top Lashkar operatives and some serving Pakistan Army officers for their role in the Mumbai attacks. Since evidence collected by the National Investigation Agency (NIA)?it was passed on to US authorities?helped the US prosecution build its case against Headley, India is hopeful that the the US will return the favour. The US has so far not accepted India?s request to be allowed to question Headley. But his plea bargain changes the equation.
Talking to reporters, Union home minister P Chidambaram refuted the opposition charge that the development in the case was a ?setback?. ?We will continue with our plea for extradition of Headley,? he said.
He said the US has provided ?significant amount of information? with regard to Headley?s activities but many questions remained unanswered and India wanted replies to these. On the possibility of Headley?s extradition to India, he said it would be difficult as he is accused of committing crimes in the US as well.