High Time Pakistan Comes Out of Denial in the David Headley Case

Primetime news debates discussed David Headley’s first deposition in an Indian court.

The public prosecutor said that Headly has been convicted in US for 35 years and India has reason to believe him as he is under an oath, which allows India to send him to the gallows if his proved wrong. (Photo: The Quint)

David Headley made his first deposition in court today. In The Buck Stops Here on NDTV, Vishnu Som was in conversation with Sudhanshu Trivedi (BJP), Sushant Sareen, Lt Gen Talat Masood (Pak), Shafqat Saeed (Pak), and MN Singh about Headley’s testimony.

Before the discussion, public prosecutor Ujjval Nikam said that Headley in his deposition revealed two failed operations in September 2008 and October 2008, where terrorists tried to enter through the same route. Dismissing rumours about Headley being a DEA agent, Nikam said Headley has been sentenced to prison in the US for 35 years. India has reason to believe him as he is said to be under oath. This allows India to send Headley to the gallows if what he has shared turns out to be untrue.

Given Pakistan’s earlier reactions to evidence provided by India, Nikam said that relying on one man’s deposition in another country might not be enough in a Pakistani court. But with the material evidence he plans to produce in the next few days, Nikam believes Pakistan might not be able to deny the information provided by Headley.

Screengrab of David Headley during his FBI interrogation in the US. (Photo Courtesy: Youtube.com/CBS News)

Sudhanshu Trivedi said if Nikam’s claims are to be believed, Pakistan should take immediate action. Sushant Sareen noted that nothing that hasn’t already been said in the US has come out. India can make use of the deposition, but expecting Pakistan to accept Headley’s testimony is far-fetched.

Talat Masood said Pakistan will examine the case with all sincerity, after checking the credibility of the evidence. Trivedi responded to his remarks saying that Pakistan had been helpful in the Pathankot case, and he expects them to show the same sincerity with the Headley case. Sareen repeatedly said that though Pakistan is extending support, their actions show otherwise. They are using legal procedures to shield terrorists. If Pakistan really wants to help, he said, they can proactively seek evidence on their own. He went on to say that if Indian evidence is not admissible in their court, they can go to the US and ask for a deposition from David Headley themselves.

The discussion ended with Headley’s lawyer Ram Jaithmalani’s comments about the case. He was very positive about the deposition, as his client was coming out with the truth under protection as an approver. He had accepted his involvement in the 26/11 attacks and spoke of his handlers, linking them to the ISI and LeT.

‘Headley Shouldn’t Be Taken Seriously’

Accused-turned-approver David Headley’s deposition in Mumbai on Monday paved the way for a short India Today debate moderated by Rajdeep Sardesai, consulting editor of the group. The participants of this debate were defence expert Bharat Karnad, Islamabad-based defence analyst Sultan Hali, deputy editor of India Today group Sandeep Unnithan, and a survivor of the Mumbai 26/11 attacks.

While the two defence experts explained where the countries stand in this context, the survivor shared his experience. While Karnad said that Pakistan should take some steps this time, Hali said, “Headley’s statements should be taken with a pinch of salt since he suffered from multiple personality disorder.”

The Taj Mahal hotel is seen engulfed in smoke during a gun battle in Mumbai, November 2008. David Headley helped plan the attack. (Photo: Reuters)

This prompted Sardesai to turn the question to the survivor, whom he initially called “victim”, to which there was an objection. The question posed was, “When you hear these primetime TV debates about the Mumbai attacks, what are your reactions?” to which he said, “I feel anger because it will be 8 years since the attack took place. Still no justice has been served.”

Unnithan was the last to speak. He said that Pakistan is still in a “state of denial and that Headley can unravel the entire 26/11 conspiracy. Headley can say anything to save himself, so he can’t be relied upon.”

The debate did not throw up many surprises and was a brief one before Sardesai shifted his attention to the next debate on the Shamli incident.

Related articles:
How Deadly is the Headley Testimony?
Hafiz Saeed, ISI Behind 26/11, Headley Confirms in Court
Headley Wanted to Fight Against Indian Army in Kashmir: Nikam