Why did US not reveal David Headley’s name?
Top government officials said American authorities should have shared the name of the terrorist who had plotted the 26/11 Mumbai attacks that claimed 166 lives.
The fact that 26/11 mastermind David Headley was a double agent allegedly working closely with FBI when his Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) contacts were well-known is making the top echelons of the UPA government wonder why the US did not name him while “sharing” terror-related information.
Sources in the government said the US administration, particularly FBI, would have a lot to explain in view of the reports in a section of the American media that Headley’s two wives had informed the investigating agency about his LeT links and visits to Pakistan much before the Mumbai attack.
“The US authorities never shared anyone’s name despite Headley’s wives having cautioned FBI about his activities,” the sources said.
On US ambassador Timothy J Roemer’s statement that the US had shared general “threat information” before 26/11, the sources said Washington should have shared details about the terrorists involved and the mastermind of the attack.
“We want to ask a simple question — did they share the name? Had they done so, Headley could have been easily arrested,” the sources said.
There is a growing feeling in government quarters that FBI and other related US organisations were using Headley’s services for “other purposes”, including to gain access to happenings in Pakistan. “It was on this account that the US administration overzealously protected Headley when India demanded access to interrogate him in FBI custody,” the sources said.