Author: Praveen Swami
Publication: The Hindu
Date: June 8, 2011
URL: http://www.hindu.com/2011/06/08/stories/2011060862960100.htm
He says he knew plotters, but was ignorant
of their plans
Federal prosecutors have released a videotape
of the interrogation of Pakistani-Canadian businessman Tahawwur Husain Rana,
who is being tried in a Chicago court for his alleged role in facilitating
the November 2008 attack on Mumbai.
In the October 18, 2009 interrogation, Rana
said that he had been in contact with a mid-level Pakistani intelligence officer
known as 'Major Iqbal,' who has been indicted for funding and coordinating
the Lashkar-e-Taiba attack on Mumbai. Rana also had high words of praise for
Sajid Mir, the top Lashkar commander who guided the assault team.
However, Rana insisted that while he knew
the key plotters, he had no knowledge of their plans. "I am not guilty,"
he said.
The videotape was released even as the Illinois
federal court where Rana is being tried began hearing concluding arguments.
Prosecutors hope the videotaped testimony will undermine Rana's claims that
he was duped by David Headley, unaware that the childhood friend he had invited
to work for his business was in fact an undercover Lashkar operative.
In the videotape, Rana admits he praised Mir,
after Headley told him he had heard audiotape of the Lashkar commander guiding
the Mumbai attack. Rana laughed, and described Mir as "Khalid bin Waleed"-
a legendary Islamic general. "When I am very, very happy," Rana
told the FBI, "I say someone is a Khalid bin Waleed."
Rana also admitted to speaking with 'Major
Iqbal,' but insisted their conversations were limited to discussing business
plans, and how he might roll back legal proceedings initiated after he deserted
the Pakistan army.
But Rana, the videotape shows, was aware of
Headley's relationship with Muhammad Illyas Kashmiri - a Pakistan-based jihad
commander who financed a post-26/11 plot to attack the offices of the Jyallands
Posten, a Copenhagen-based newspaper which incensed many Muslims by printing
allegedly blasphemous cartoons. Headley was provided visiting cards of Rana's
immigration business, which allowed him to visit the offices of the newspaper,
posing as an advertiser.
Rana admitted he knew Headley harboured violent
thoughts about the cartoonists at the newspaper - and prosecutors say he could
not but have enquired about why Headley wanted to advertise in it.
