With the underlying tension between India and the US surrounding David Coleman Headley’s complicity in the Mumbai terror attack, the US moved swiftly to spin the American national’s guilty plea as an “important step” towards justice for victims of 26/11.
Attorney-general Eric H Holder Jr, who had approved Headley’s plea deal, said the guilty plea was a crucial step towards achieving justice for more than 166 people who lost their lives in the November 26, 2008, attacks.
“Not only has the criminal justice system achieved a guilty plea in this case, but Headley is now providing us valuable intelligence about terrorist activities,” Holder said on Thursday. “As this case demonstrates, we must continue to use every tool available to defeat terrorism both at home and abroad.”
Headley pleaded guilty on Thursday to using Tahawwur Rana’s immigration company as a cover for surveillance activities in India during five trips to Mumbai to prepare for the attack. As part of his deal, Headley will not face the death penalty if he continues to cooperate with US prosecutors’ terrorism investigation. According to the agreement, Headley must “fully and truthfully participate in debriefings to gather intelligence or national security information, and Headley further agreed that when directed by the United States attorney’s office, he will fully and truthfully testify in any foreign judicial proceedings held in the US by way of deposition, video-conferencing or letters rogatory”.
Headley’s jail sentencing will be deferred until he finishes co-operating with the US and presumably Indian investigators.
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