The plan was however aborted. Headley claimed that terror outfits LeT, Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) and Hizbul Mujahideen (HM) are given financial and military support by the Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI).
Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) operative David Coleman Headley on Tuesday made a stunning revelation that the LeT had plans to target a conference of Indian defence scientists and the Siddhivinayak temple in Mumbai.
The plan was however aborted. Headley claimed that terror outfits LeT, Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) and Hizbul Mujahideen (HM) are given financial and military support by the Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI).
Headley, who had visited Mumbai seven times to scout for targets, revealed that plans to target Mumbai started over a year before November 26, 2008, and that LeT initially wanted to attack a conference of Indian defence scientists at the Taj Mahal Hotel.
"In November-December 2007, LeT held a meeting in Muzaffarabad, which was attended by its operatives Sajid Mir and Abu Qahafa. In this meeting, it was decided that terror attacks would be carried out in Mumbai. The task of conducting the recce of the Taj Hotel was assigned to me. Mir and Qahafa had some information that there was going to be a meeting of Indian defence scientists at the conference hall in Taj Hotel. They wanted to plan an attack at that time. They had also made a replica of the hotel."
"The plan was aborted due to logistical reasons, like the impossibility in getting weapons and personnel to the hall and that he could not get details about the schedule of the conference," Headley said.
He further revealed that he had also conducted a recce of the Siddhivinayak temple and the naval air station. Headley also told the court that his LeT handler Mir had specifically asked him to make a video of the Siddhivinayak temple.
Making another stunning claim, Headley told the court that he was asked by the ISI to recruit India armymen to spy for them.
"I met Major Iqbal of ISI in Lahore in early 2006. Iqbal asked me to gather military intelligence from India and also try to recruit someone from the Indian military. I told Iqbal that I would do as he asked. Samir Ali also wanted me to do some intelligence work in India. I was in contact with Samir Ali over phone," Headley said.
Deposing before a court presided by special judge G A Sanap for the second consecutive day via video-link from the US, Headley said he was working for ISI besides LeT and that he had met many people from the Pakistan Army. The deposition will resume on Wednesday.
Making another stunning revelation about the ISI being closely working with terrorist outfits in Pakistan, Headley also said he knew about ISI official Brigadier Riyaz being the handler of Lakhvi.
When shown a photograph of Lakhvi, Headley identified him. On Monday, Headley had told the court that he was a "true follower" of LeT.
Headley also named three officials of the Pakistan army and ISI -- Colonel Shah, Lt Colonel Hamza and Major Samir Ali - besides retired army officer Abdul Rehman Pasha, who was closely working with LeT and al-Qaeda.
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