Lashkar-e-Taiba taught me that India is an enemy of Islam, says David Headley

Pakistani-American Lashkar-e-Taiba operative David Headley gave his first deposition before a Mumbai court on Monday via video conferencing from the United States. Headley had turned approver in the Mumbai 26/11 attacks case in December, after he was granted conditional pardon by the Terrorist and Disruptive Activities (Prevention) Act court.

The American citizen made a number of revelations on Monday, including telling the court that he had joined the LeT after being motivated by Hafiz Saeed's speeches. He also said that the terror group had made two failed attempts to carry out attacks in Mumbai before the November 2008 siege.

Here is how Monday's deposition unfolded:

1 pm: NDTV reported that the Centre may approach Pakistan with a fresh dossier based on David Headley's deposition.

12.30 pm: The first part of Headley's deposition is over. Special Public Prosecutor Ujjwal Nikam said the following revelations were made by Headley in the five-hour deposition on Monday:

• David Headley's real name is Dawood Gilani. The Pakistani-American changed his name in 2006 as he wanted to hide his identity and come to India for a reconnaissance mission.
• He joined the LeT in 2002 and completed army training, which included working with explosives and the AK-47 assault rifle. He also took part in leadership courses, where he was taught by LeT operatives Zaki-ur-Rehman Lakhavi and Hafiz Saeed that India was an enemy of Islam. He was also asked to wage war against India.
• He said he intended to go to Kashmir to fight against Indian troops, but Lakhvi and Saeed told him he was too old to be a field agent.
• He was introduced to Major Iqbal and Major Ali of Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence agency. He said that Major Iqbal helped in get an Indian visa.
• He made eight trips to India prior to the November 2008 attacks, out of which seven were from Pakistan and one from the United Arab Emirates. He was asked to set up "some business" in India by fellow LeT operative Sajid Mir, who Headley said was his main contact.
• He said that the LeT had made two failed attempts to launch a terror attack in Mumbai before the 26/11 siege.

Following Headley's revelations, Nikam said it is clear there is a close nexus between the ISI and the LeT. The prosecutor added that he has completed only one-fourth of his interrogation, which will continue on Tuesday in the second part of Headley's deposition.

12.10 pm: Headley said that he visited five-six militant training camps in Pakistan prior to the Mumbai attacks. He added that he attended the Daura-e-Suffa, Daura-e-Amma, Daura-e-Khasa and Daura-e-Ribat leadership courses, reported ANI.

During these leadership courses, Headley said he met LeT operative Zaki-ur-Rehman Lakhavi, along with Hafiz Saeed. "They used to give religious jihad speeches. During these courses, they also taught us that India is [an] enemy of Islam," he said.

Headley also said he intended to go to Kashmir to fight against Indian troops, but Lakhvi and Saeed told him he was too old to be a field agent.

12 pm: Journalist Barkha Dutt posted this extract from her book This Unquiet Land, where the owner of a gym that Headley visited in Mumbai describes the American citizen:

11.30 am: Headley said he was introduced to Major Iqbal of Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence agency, who also helped him with his Indian visa.

11.20 am: Headley's lawyer Mahesh Jethmalani said that the Pakistani-American did the LeT's work on the directions of Hafiz Saeed, who he met in 2002. "I think the evidence will be quite significant," Jethmalani told reporters, without giving out further details.

11.10 am: Headley has identified Hafiz Saeed as the head of the LeT. Saeed, who heads the LeT's political arm, Jamaat ud Dawa, has long been reported to be the mastermind behind the Mumbai attacks. Headley said he was influenced to join the LeT after he heard Saeed's speech in 2002, reported Times Now.

11 am: Here is a summary of all the revelations made by David Coleman Headley so far:

• He changed his name from Dawood Gilani to David Headley on his passport, as he wanted an American name and identity to enter India prior to the attacks. 
• He made eight trips to India prior to the November 2008 attacks, out of which seven were from Pakistan and one from the United Arab Emirates. He also provided mainly false information in his visa application.
• He set up "some business" in India on fellow LeT operative Sajid Mir's instruction. Headley said Mir was his main contact, who had asked him to take a general video about Mumbai city.
• He said that the LeT had made two failed attempts to launch a terror attack in Mumbai before the 26/11 siege.

10.50 am: Headley said that the LeT had made two failed attempts to launch a terror attack in Mumbai before the 26/11 siege, reported ANI. The first was in September 2008, but the boat in which the terrorists were sailing in hit rocks in the sea, resulting in the weapons and explosives being lost. Those on board the boat survived, he said.

The second attempt was made in October 2008 by the same group of terrorists, but failed again. Finally, in November 2008, the third attempt was successful, he said.

10.20 am: Congress leader Abhishek Manu Singhvi told ANI that the information Headley has revealed so far is "very important to confront not only Pakistan, but international communities as well".

10 am: CNN-IBN reported that David Headley has been asked 40 questions so far related to the 26/11 attacks. The news channel also said that LeT member Sajid Mir, who Headley has said was his contact for the Mumbai attacks, was the terror group's foreign recruiter and ran training camps.

9.40 am: Headley said that all details in his visa application for India were incorrect, except place of birth, date of birth, mother's nationality and passport number, reported ANI. He added that Tahawur Rana, a childhood friend, had helped him with the visa application, reported Times Now.

9.20 am: Headley said he changed his name from Dawood Gilani to David Headley in 2006 so that he could enter India and set up a business with an American name, reported PTI. "After I changed my name, within few weeks I visited Pakistan," he said.

9.10 am: Headley said that he was a true follower of the Lashkar-e-Taiba, adding that its operative Sajid Mir was his main contact. Headley added that Mir had asked him to take a general video about Mumbai city.

9 am: Headley told the court that he visited India eight times before the November 2008 attacks, reported CNN-IBN. Out of the eight visits, Headley said that seven were directly from Pakistan and one from the United Arab Emirates.

During his visits to India, Headley reportedly drew maps, took video footage and scouted several targets for the attacks including the Taj Hotel, Oberoi Hotel and Nariman House in Mumbai. Headley is currently serving a 35-year prison sentence in the US for his planning and execution of the Mumbai terror attacks.

Special Public Prosecutor Ujjwal Nikam said, "This is for the first time in the Indian legal history that a foreign terrorist will appear before an Indian court and testify." A Mumbai Police official said the American citizen can can reveal details about the criminal conspiracy and who all were involved in the attacks., which had left 166 people dead and 309 others injured.