The Curious Case of Daood Gilani alias David Headley & co

enqyoob · Post by **enqyoob** » 16 Dec 2009 20:57

The counterfeit cash thing, if true, is terribly scary.

There is one reason why his handlers would have given him PakiCash - to make sure he drew attention.

Tanaji · Post by **Tanaji** » 16 Dec 2009 21:03

enqyoob wrote:The counterfeit cash thing, if true, is terribly scary.

There is one reason why his handlers would have given him PakiCash - to make sure he drew attention.

How so? He got away clean didnt he? In fact MuPo had no clue that Headley existed before the FBI told them.... All this counterfeit stuff came out after the sleuths started going over his activities with a tooth comb

enqyoob · Post by **enqyoob** » 16 Dec 2009 21:08

That's because the desi "Chalta Hai" defeated the best efforts of those who tried to warn India.

Tanaji · Post by **Tanaji** » 16 Dec 2009 21:16

I am still amazed that both Indian and Pakistani Consuls are still at their jobs. The former should be recalled "for discussions" and the latter... well I suppose its par for whatever Pakis do i.e. defecate where they eat.

sum · Post by **sum** » 16 Dec 2009 21:19

NOW they say they can't find the file? There has to be a very good, non-accidental reason for this. And Nirupama Rao Herself has confirmed that there is a huge problem! This would indicate that it is not a GOI-GOTUS scam to protect Rana as an agent.

What is $#%@^'s name is going on here? How on earth do papers go missing from a consulate?

The whole saga is getting more murky and confusing than a Le Carre novel. The only thing clear is : our agencies were caught with their pants down and are still groping in the darkness and trying to find their way using the crumbs being thrown by the Americans.

Yudhajit · Post by **Yudhajit** » 16 Dec 2009 21:21

Another opinion....

Indian intelligence agencies were on the “tail” of an American connected with 26/11. This they followed up along with the Bangldeshi trail and were on the verge of getting to Headley which is when the US picked him up. And put him in custody so that he is kept safe from Indian intelligence agencies.

http://bengalunderattack.blogspot.com/

sum · Post by **sum** » 16 Dec 2009 21:21

Tanaji wrote:I am still amazed that both Indian and Pakistani Consuls are still at their jobs. The former should be recalled "for discussions" and the latter... well I suppose its par for whatever Pakis do i.e. defecate where they eat.

Actually, the Paki consul did his job well ( of promoting Paki syle IT) though it can be said that he didn't do it well enough ( like say the famous Azim Cheema of IC-814 fame) and hence, deserved to be fired.

The Indian consul should be cooling his heels in Desh by now for gross negligence.

R Vaidya · Post by **R Vaidya** » 16 Dec 2009 21:30

Headley seems to have used the company of many women to get into all sorts of locations/places.
It is reported that he also had one woman- sort of girl friend-more close to him and often seen with him.
Elsewhere Rahul denied that his mother knew him etc. Also she met him very briefly say for five minutes when he- Rahul- was getting ready at his home etc.
I tell my students that more than unanswered questions unasked for answers reveal a lot about a person or event or situation.
So Rahul's unasked for denial is a red flag-

Patni · Post by **Patni** » 16 Dec 2009 21:33

Tanaji wrote:I am still amazed that both Indian and Pakistani Consuls are still at their jobs. The former should be recalled "for discussions" and the latter... well I suppose its par for whatever Pakis do i.e. defecate where they eat.

While it certainly is very fishy that chicago consulate suddenly lost the papers on rana/headley visa, I had posted on the thread few pages back the technical reason that Indian consul gave in his defense about how come rana's application was not forwarded to home ministry In delhi as is required for all pakis, by saying that Rana has legally surrendered his paki citizenship and technically Rana is canadian citizen and hence Indian Consul was within in the letter of law by not treating him as paki and giving him 5 years multi entry visa to India. I came across that while searching to find if either rana or headley have paki passport as well. Rana has surrendred his paki passport few years back and I think headley may have his one on his paki name as well as his american one as headley! But then as undercover operator of least one US agency we will never know how he managed to avoid all red flags even after his multiple visits to terroristan.

sum · Post by **sum** » 16 Dec 2009 21:33

Yudhajit wrote:Another opinion....
Indian intelligence agencies were on the “tail” of an American connected with 26/11. This they followed up along with the Bangldeshi trail and were on the verge of getting to Headley which is when the US picked him up. And put him in custody so that he is kept safe from Indian intelligence agencies.
http://bengalunderattack.blogspot.com/

Dunno but seem to agree with most of the points quoted in the blog (though some points are bit too much of a conspiracy theory). Currently, seems to be the most plausible explanation of the murkiness going around.

Amber G. · Post by **Amber G.** » 16 Dec 2009 21:40

India asks Chicago consulate to explain missing Headley, Rana papers

I have sought a factual report from our consul general," Rao told reporters here, responding to media reports.

The Indian consulate in Chicago issued visas to Rana and Headley to travel to India. Both made several trips between 2006 to 2008 to various cities in India.

Rao added that India was getting "very good cooperation from the United States government" in the investigation.

enqyoob · Post by **enqyoob** » 16 Dec 2009 22:02

How on earth do papers go missing from a consulate?

More apt question may be:

Who on earth can make papers go missing from a consulate?

gandharva · Post by **gandharva** » 16 Dec 2009 22:13

The Indian consul should be cooling his heels in Desh by now for gross negligence.

His bank accounts and acquisition of benami properties should be investigated.

Amber G. · Post by **Amber G.** » 16 Dec 2009 22:16

enqyoob wrote:More apt question may be:
Who on earth can make papers go missing from a consulate?

And Atri is asking: Why they want to know, when Consular General Atri himself met External Affairs Minister, National Security Adviser AND Foreign Secretary to assure them that and told them "

No rules had been violated in giving him[Rana] the travel document as he had submitted all proper papers "

(Nov 26 story)
'No visa rules violated for Tahawwur Rana'

WASHINGTON: Ashok Atri, Consular General in the Indian Consulate in Chicago, which is embroiled in a controversy over visa issued to LeT operative Tahawwur Hussain Rana, has met External Affairs Minister S M Krishna and said that no rules had been violated in giving him the travel document as he had submitted all proper papers for the same.

Atri, who also met National Security Adviser M K Narayanan and Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao, explained that no wrong-doing had occurred on part of the Consulate as Rana, a Canadian national of Pakistani origin, appeared to be a bonafide normal traveller to India for business. {Besides, he was recommended by upstanding Let operative like Headley himself. not to mention he was personally known to TSP's consule}

Rana was arrested along with Pakistani origin US national David C. Headley by FBI for planning major terror attacks in India on behest of Lashkar-e-Toiba

ramana · Post by **ramana** » 16 Dec 2009 22:23

Two reports from Hindu:

1) Headley a double agent?

2) Headley shopped in Mumbai with American credit cards

...“All this is under the purview of the probe. We are also looking into all circumstances like who made his credit card payments and who supplied him with fake Indian currency,” top officials of the Union Home Ministry said on Tuesday.....

....
Though the U.S. agencies had alerted India about the possibility of a terror strike in Mumbai through sea route in September 2008 and even named the Taj Hotel as one of the prime targets, they knew about the terror plot about a year before that. “There were two earlier botched up attempts to launch terror attacks in Mumbai, but terrorists succeeded in their third attempt on November 26 last,” the sources said.

Headley’s understanding of the Pakistani drug network came to light, when in 1998 he, under his name of Dawood Gilani, was convicted of conspiring to smuggle heroin into the U.S. from Pakistan. After his arrest, courts records quoted by the American media, show that he provided so much information about his Pakistani drug contacts, his own involvement with drug trafficking, which dated back to a decade, and about his Pakistan suppliers, that he got less than two years in jail. He later went to Pakistan to conduct undercover surveillance operations for the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).

In 2003, he attended Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) training camps in Pakistan. In 2006, he changed his name to David Headley, so as to make border crossings between the U.S. and other countries easier. He then moved his family to Chicago and claimed to work for an immigration agency, owned by Tahawwur Hussain Rana, now his co-conspirator and also under arrest.

Rana was born in Pakistan, took Canadian citizenship and ran a business in Chicago. Headley has been charged earlier this month in a U.S. court with hatching criminal conspiracy to launch the Mumbai terror attacks.

As investigators try and piece together a number of aspects of conspiracy behind 26/11 without getting bogged down by “pre-conceived notions,” the sources said yet another look was being given at the working of the counter-intelligence wings of the Indian agencies who never imagined the possibility of a Pakistani-origin U.S. citizen being involved in the LeT network and conspiring to launch terror attacks in Mumbai.

Wouldnt be surprised if Atri decides to stay back in US.

chetak · Post by **chetak** » 16 Dec 2009 22:27

Amber G. wrote: quote="enqyoob"More apt question may be:
quote Who on earth can make papers go missing from a consulate?
And Atri is asking: Why they want to know, when Consular General Atri himself met External Affairs Minister, National Security Adviser AND Foreign Secretary to assure them that and told them
quote
No rules had been violated in giving him[Rana] the travel document as he had submitted all proper papers "

We need to know why friend Atri is so arrogant and to whom is he connected?

A cowboy like this has to belong to a well known ranch.

Amber G. · Post by **Amber G.** » 16 Dec 2009 22:28

^^^ BTW Role of Chicago consul and Rana's case was most likely discussed in details (there were a few news stories then)
at high level when National Security Adviser M.K. Narayanan held talks with CIA chief Leon Panetta in New Delhi around Nov 22... The story above (that Atri saying 'he did nothing wrong') appeared a few days later.

Patni · Post by **Patni** » 16 Dec 2009 22:29

Memo filed by Prosecution in rana's bail hearing to judge nan nolan

Case 1:09-cr-00849 Document 34 Filed 12/14/09 Page 1 of 10
Rana Knew In Advance of the Mumbai Attacks
In the September 7th conversation, Headley and Rana discussed Rana’s
meeting with their associate, “Pasha,” in Dubai just days before the Mumbai
attacks began. “Pasha” is a nickname for Abdur Rehman Hashim Syed, who
the government has charged in a separate complaint (09 CR 862) for his
involvement in the conspiracy to attack the Danish newspaper. (As set forth
in that complaint, “Pasha” is a retired Pakistani military officer who was
Headley’s direct link to Ilyas Kashmiri, one of Pakistan’s most wanted
terrorists and a direct link to al Qaeda.) As discussed below, Headley and
Rana discussed how Rana had learned during an in person meeting between
Rana and Pasha in Dubai that the Mumbai attacks were to happen before
they took place:
Headley: When Pasha met you in Dubai [and] told
you this was about to happen – this one,
after that when you landed in America,
how did you find out about it?
Rana: I was in the air.
Headley: How did you find out about it in the air –
Rana: Yeah
Headley: – was it coming in writing there.
Rana: I was in the air and [ui] I went to –
Headley: Yeah
Rana: I went from Dubai to China – was
supposed to board the plane for America
– this has started.
Headley: In Mumbai, yeah.
Rana: Yeah.
* * *
Headley: Did Pasha not say that?
Rana: Yes.
Headley: When he mentioned that –
Rana: What?
Headley: Pasha had mentioned that in Dubai that
this is how –
Rana: That he said to me as well; but I
deliberately have started planning.
Headley: Yes, yes absolutely.

Travel records for Rana corroborate that Rana was in Dubai days before
the Mumbai attacks and was returning from China when the attacks
occurred. Rana flew to Dubai and arrived on November 21, 2008.3/ Rana
remained in Dubai until November 24, 2008. On November 24, 2008, Rana
traveled to China from Dubai.4/ Then, on November 26, 2008 – the day that
the Mumbai attacks started – Rana boarded a plane to return to America.5/

Satya_anveshi · Post by **Satya_anveshi** » 16 Dec 2009 22:34

Given the way this information was voluntarily provided by US and the way the leaks have been coming along and guarded reaction/comments from our experts, I am beginning to feel that the duo-story is potentially a HUGE distraction for the Indian investigation.

Of course it is my sheer baseless speculation and don't claim to know any facts but I am finding it odd that we are being provided information on the platter even without asking (may be). Hope we are giving this information due attention to potentially benefit but not distracted from the main goal - providing justice to attackers/planners/neutralizing terror infrastructure, preventing any future attacks, and securing our national interests.

Karna_A · Post by **Karna_A** » 16 Dec 2009 22:45

You forgot the most important things:
Pretty soon he'll be working 3 JOBS in a federal prison.
Day shift will be for Aryan Nation, Evening shift for MS13 and I believe for Traitors night shift is reserved for Crips.
I believe his training in TSP camps will soon come in HANDY!

Tanaji wrote:This whole Headley affair is mysterious. Think of it, we have one man who:

Met Rahul Bhatt

Has different coloured eyes

Is simultaneously a gora and a desi

Had open access to the Indian consulate in Chicago

Met with various Bollywood stars and was thick with the Bhatt clan

Did reconnaissance in Mumbai

Did training in Pakistan

Was close to LeT top commanders

Was present in control room of LeT during Mumbai attacks

Came with FBI to interrogate Kasab

Had deep knowledge of drug trade in Pakistan

Was in cahoots with ISI , CIA and LeT, all at the same time

Had access to almost unlimited funds, with credit cards on American banks, bills paid by who knows?

Had access to Indian counterfeit currency notes
Others can add more....

I mean this is mind boggling. He is either a hybrid of James Bond, xXx, Jason Bourne combined or there is something else going on here.

ramana · Post by **ramana** » 16 Dec 2009 23:00

What are the views of B Raman and other experts on Headley revelations?

Amber G. · Post by **Amber G.** » 16 Dec 2009 23:42

More from News stories about Atri "Did nothing wrong".." Papers are missing but he remembers he did everything which was proper"
(Sorry if posted already)
He tells (on record to news papers):
- "A Canadian national of Pakistani origin, appeared to be a bonafide normal traveler to India for business"
- no exception had been made to give visa to Rana and that his office had routinely put the “discretionary” stamp on it.
- per an August 2005 circular of the Indian Home Ministry, the Chicago Consulate was not required to send the visa applications of Pakistan-origin people to New Delhi and could process these in Chicago itself,
- except 43 countries, which did not include the US and Canada, there was no need for prior approval of the Home Ministry for issuing visas to Pakistani origin citizens (per circular)
- Rana had submitted proper documents as proof of his 6018 North Campbell Avenue, Chicago, residence which included original notice of property tax by the Treasury Department. (The clarification to clarify that Rana had notsubmitted fake residential proof ) .
- Rana had also submitted two letters by an American citizen Raymond J Sanders, said to be his business partner, recommending visa for Rana
(And Atri checked that Raymond J Sanders is owner of Mumbai Immigration Law Centre located at Dewan Avenue in Chicago)
(Don't find any listing for such in white or yellow pages)

From WPost story
and
http://www.indiajournal.com/pages/event.php?id=9190

BTW what is located at "6018 North Campbell Avenue, Chicago"
Here is if someone with did a little check up would have found that person named Rana with abouve address is president of " First World Management" which is, yes you guessed it correctly : A goat slaughter house at 6260 Kinsman Road, in Kinsman, Illinois.

Here is that property in News around Oct this year...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i-fiKHp7 ... r_embedded

(Yes, at the same time, 6018 North Campbell Avenue, Chicago was also raided, Both belonged to Rana)

ramana · Post by **ramana** » 16 Dec 2009 23:42

Even Barkha Dutt finds it curious.

A Headley Mystery

I guess the allusion is the James Headly Chase the mystery wrtier popular in India in the 70s.

...
The question then is: what is America hiding- and why?

The first missing piece in the puzzle goes to back the fact that Headley was on the FBI radar for over a year before he was arrested in October. In fact, he was already under surveillance one month before the 26/11 attacks. Why was this information not passed on to New Delhi at this time? How did Headley manage to make a trip to India in April 2009, five months after the Mumbai attacks, without India having a clue that the FBI was keeping a watch on him? It’s clear that information was not shared with us in real time. But given that Headley’s half brother has turned out to be an official in the public relations office of the Pakistan Prime Minister, was Islamabad given a thumbs up?

Or could it be that the reason that America has hugged the Headley case so tightly to itself is because Headley was an undercover agent who worked for them and then went rogue?

When the whisper campaign around this theory first erupted, it was dismissed as too fantastical to be the stuff of real life. {Here too! many stalwarts went after those who expressed this.}
Since then, however, both the New York Times and the Daily Beast website have chronicled how Headley crossed sides and worked for America’s Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) after he was arrested for smuggling in heroin in 1998. The NYT report even quotes court documents to say that Headley knew Pakistan’s narcotics underbelly so well that he was imprisoned for less than two years, after which he was sent to Pakistan to “conduct undercover surveillance operations for the DEA”. In the post-9/11 world of American security, the lines between drug trafficking and terrorism have blurred. In other words, the CIA may well have been just one step away from the DEA.

This busts another myth in the Headley narrative. So far, we have been told that Headley abandoned his real name of Daood Gilani and embraced an American sounding, Christian name, so he could travel in India without attracting suspicion. But, if he was an informant for the US administration, isn’t it more likely that he took on a false name so that he could whiz in and out of airports without popping up on security lists? Another investigative journalist, Gerald Posner, confirms this thesis, writing, that, “in a world of high security, Headley somehow managed to then move with apparent ease in and out of Pakistan. A convicted felon of Pakistani descent, making frequent trips back and forth to the US (there were apparently at least four in one year), would have been monitored by US tracking agencies.”

Even more eerily, the FBI had warned India that Mumbai could come under attack in September 2008. Was their intelligence so specific because Headley had supplied the information to them as an informant within the Lashkar-e-Tayyeba before turning double agent on the US?

Not surprisingly, neither the FBI nor the DEA have commented on any of these reports. But whether Headley was an agent-gone-rogue or not, it is now an empirical fact that he struck a deal in the past with law enforcement officials in the US administration. Doesn’t that fact in itself raise a whole new bunch of questions?

So, instead of playing out an official charade with statements on extradition (not likely to happen anyway), shouldn’t India be focusing on the central question: who is David Headley? And isn’t it time we get the fact that America may not want to answer that question for us. This is India’s battle. And one we will have to fight ourselves.

Barkha Dutt is Group Editor, English News, NDTV

She is good when she wants to be!

Amber G. · Post by **Amber G.** » 17 Dec 2009 00:01

US agencies cooperating on Headley, Rana: govt

ramana · Post by **ramana** » 17 Dec 2009 00:11

Amber G. wrote:US agencies cooperating on Headley, Rana: govt

Govt has to emphasise that when folks like B. Dutt are getting anxious.

AdityaM · Post by **AdityaM** » 17 Dec 2009 00:17

^ "She is good when she wants to be!"

Thats hardly the case. How can eendeeteebee with close links to communists allow such a juicy opportunity to pan usa go by? the left is very vocal on headley being a US agent, so it natural that burkha will take the cue.

Also people have been wondering why Unkil is protecting headley. Apart from the many obvious reasons, one more could be that headley would have made many links with indian drug cartels with obvious political connections. USA would not want indian investigators to interrogate headley and blow some convenient covers

vera_k · Post by **vera_k** » 17 Dec 2009 00:23

I don't buy into the Indi-Commies trying to insinuate that Headley is somehow being supported by the USG. Because, it would have been easy for the USG to give him yet another identity or make him disappear by unsavoury means if Indian investigators were getting anywhere close to him.

Amber G. · Post by **Amber G.** » 17 Dec 2009 00:28

^^^ May be, personally I think that may be there is much more cooperation.. It's not a binary bit. One does not have to assume that that only explanation is CT's like "it was a joint operation".

One can look up 1993.. where FBI/CIA's cooperation included loosing Paki supplied triggers ..
Now (unlike in the past) both US and India are reportedly saying positive things. I will give GOI a little more credit than dismissing everything they say. ... As I said glass may be half full.

Meanwhile: A question If some one in US beats up an employee of Rana to "defend himself and his country from terrorists, should he still be prosecuted for 'Hate crimes'?

here is the story:
Was Grundy beating of Mideast man a hate crime?

A Middle Eastern man working at a Grundy County slaughterhouse raided as part of a wide-scale terrorism probe in Chicago has paid the price for his boss' alleged crimes: Police say he was pummeled at a Kinsman bar by two men, one of whom allegedly shouted racial slurs..
...
Finch, 32, of Diamond, Ill., and Luke Harty, 32, of Ransom, Ill., were charged with assault, and a grand jury is expected to consider hate-crime charges, Grundy County Sheriff Terry M. Marketti told the Sun-Times on Tuesday.

After drinking at Uncle Dave's Bar and Grille in Kinsman on Sunday night, Finch and Harty got into a fight with Faud M. Nafie, 35, police say.
...
Nafie, an employee of Tahawwur Husain Rana -- who was arrested last month on charges he provided material support to terrorists, was kicked and punched in the head and face to the point he was hospitalized, Marketti said.

Finch allegedly told a Grundy County sheriff's police officer he was defending himself and his country "from terrorists...
...He said Nafie frequented the bar for years with no problems. Nafie is among a handful of employees who continue to work at the Kinsman plant.

Ravi Karumanchiri · Post by **Ravi Karumanchiri** » 17 Dec 2009 00:36

David Headley, a double agent?

by Vinay Kumar

http://www.hindu.com/2009/12/16/stories ... 520100.htm

&

Headley shopped in Mumbai with American credit cards

by Special Correspondent

http://www.hindu.com/2009/12/16/stories ... 461000.htm

negi · Post by **negi** » 17 Dec 2009 00:39

Amber G. wrote:^^^ May be, personally I think that may be there is much more cooperation.. It's not a binary bit. One does not have to assume that that only explanation is CT's like "it was a joint operation".

One can look up 1993.. where FBI/CIA's cooperation included loosing Paki supplied triggers ..
Now (unlike in the past) both US and India are reportedly saying positive things. I will give GOI a little more credit than dismissing everything they say. ... As I said glass may be half full.

I agree and may be could not have put it in better words.

Meanwhile: A question If some one in US beats up an employee of Rana to "defend himself and his country from terrorists, should he still be prosecuted for 'Hate crimes'?

I don't know how to react to this to be honest there are chances of innocents in fact even Indians getting targeted because of similar superficial features and what if some happens to work in same area or even the same slaughter house ?

Mahendra · Post by **Mahendra** » 17 Dec 2009 01:49

Rah-ul Butt was questioned by FBI

Tanaji · Post by **Tanaji** » 17 Dec 2009 02:02

Amber G. wrote:^^^ May be, personally I think that may be there is much more cooperation.. It's not a binary bit. One does not have to assume that that only explanation is CT's like "it was a joint operation".

One can look up 1993.. where FBI/CIA's cooperation included loosing Paki supplied triggers ..
Now (unlike in the past) both US and India are reportedly saying positive things. I will give GOI a little more credit than dismissing everything they say. ... As I said glass may be half full.

Better co-operation is evident, but it does not necessarily rule out the fact that Headley may have been working with CIA/DEA since the last 2 years. What is more probable was that Headley must have been picked up and "turned" by DEA agents when he had the initial convictions related to drug smuggling. Eventually he would have been handed over to the CIA, when his contacts with Pakistan came to light. All during this, Headley must have been doing his own deals with the ISI, LeT etc...

What is not evident is just how much knowledge the American agencies would have had of the Mumbai attacks. Said agencies are run as personal fiefdoms, DHS not withstanding, so it is not unlikely that a 3 letter agency would have put their interest and the interest of protecting their source much before Indian lives.

Of course all this is speculation.... TV reports are claiming however that Headley was a known customer for over a year...

The real question is would the Americans have behaved the same if the attacks were to have taken place in London instead of Mumbai. I would like to think that for American 3 letter agencies the importance of a British life = Indian life, but I am not sure of whether that is really true yet. Perhaps others would know...

Tanaji · Post by **Tanaji** » 17 Dec 2009 02:03

Mahendra wrote:Rah-ul Butt was questioned by FBI

Rahul Bhatt should thank himself that he is not being deported and extradited to USA.

Amber G. · Post by **Amber G.** » 17 Dec 2009 02:08

Check out this local (Chicago) report and I-team investigation. (Dec 9)

The conduct of two foreign consulates in Chicago is reportedly under scrutiny by authorities in the U.S.

Both the Pakistani and Indian consulates granted visas to terror suspect David Headley despite his recent name change and other red flags.

A background check would have revealed:

Headley had just changed his identity;
From the name he was born with in 1960: Daood Gilani;
Given by his father, a native of Pakistan, India's arch enemy neighbor.
Gilani was an ex-con heroin dealer, who in 1998 was sentenced to 15 months in federal prison.
He was a radical Muslim.
.
..."He was Daood Gilana, he changed his name to David Headley just for these purposes. Having an American name, having a US citizenship essentially gives him a passport to travel around the world including India...the fact that no red flags were raised around the fact that he had been convicted in the U.S. of this drug charge. That is indeed questionable and something that the Indian intelligence needs to answer,"
Indian consulate officials here in Chicago refused to speak with the I-Team about why Headley and was granted a five-year visa that the FBI said he used to videotape terror targets in Mumbai.

Even though the Chicago Consul General for India, Ambassador Ashok Kumar Attri has held news conferences about visa procedures, his office typed up a paper statement claiming Headley's visa was issued "with due scrutiny of the available documents" and that they were "following guidelines."

The questions aren't just about Headley's India visa.

The Chicago Consul General for Pakistan is a former high school classmate of the alleged terrorist and of co-defendant Tahawwur Rana. All three men attended military school in Pakistan.

More details follows (worth watching)

Link (Video)

Can't blame I-team for doing equal equal to both Pak and Indian Consulates... Both seem to be unbelievably bad and should be held accountable.

(For a change - in stead of doing == of CIA and ISI from some sources we have == of these two consulates ...Can't say I blame them ... When it comes to Accountability.. Indian consulate (and others responsible) should not get a free pass))

Ananya · Post by **Ananya** » 17 Dec 2009 02:12

the funniest part is pakis would be equating to us in this as well. The entire staff of Chigago counsil should be dismissed if they are not able to trace the papers.

svinayak · Post by **svinayak** » 17 Dec 2009 02:17

Amber G. wrote:
A background check would have revealed:

Headley had just changed his identity;
From the name he was born with in 1960: Daood Gilani;
Given by his father, a native of Pakistan, India's arch enemy neighbor.
Gilani was an ex-con heroin dealer, who in 1998 was sentenced to 15 months in federal prison.
He was a radical Muslim.
.
..."He was Daood Gilana, he changed his name to David Headley just for these purposes. Having an American name, having a US citizenship essentially gives him a passport to travel around the world including India...the fact that no red flags were raised around the fact that he had been convicted in the U.S. of this drug charge. That is indeed questionable and something that the Indian intelligence needs to answer,"
Indian consulate officials here in Chicago refused to speak with the I-Team about why Headley and was granted a five-year visa that the FBI said he used to videotape terror targets in Mumbai.

What IF Indian Ministry wanted him to travel to India and keep a watch on what he is doing which will give a clue to what ISI is upto?

Amber G. · Post by **Amber G.** » 17 Dec 2009 02:27

One small thing from the ABC report which people who have watched US media for long couldn't help but notice.... Noticed that there was clear reference to "Pakistani terrorists trained by " L-eT etc ... and not sickening qualifiers. (like . "what India claims ..and Pakistanis denies") .. No references to "disputed Kashmir," or how Pak and India "(both nuclear power") fought wars ... or ..."both" blame each other or such nonsense ...

Also the conclusion - " Indian Intelligence has to answer and held accountable" seem valid.

Mahendra · Post by **Mahendra** » 17 Dec 2009 02:37

What IF Indian Ministry wanted him to travel to India and keep a watch on what he is doing which will give a clue to what ISI is upto?

If that was true why is the Indian ministry still clueless about Daood Gilani and his Indian contacts and still depends on the FBI for information. If the Indian agencies had watched him during his tours, somebody would have had a "dimaag ki batti" moment long before the arrest of the duo a few weeks ago.

svinayak · Post by **svinayak** » 17 Dec 2009 02:41

Mahendra wrote:
If that was true why is the Indian ministry still clueless about Daood Gilani and his Indian contacts and still depends on the FBI for information. If the Indian agencies had watched him during his tours, somebody would have had a "dimaag ki batti" moment long before the arrest of the duo a few weeks ago.

What IF they wanted the public to think that way

Amber G. · Post by **Amber G.** » 17 Dec 2009 02:54

What IF they wanted the public to think that way

They didn't.