Reference to a report in the Oct 22 newspaper. David Headley, a US citizen, was sent on a secret mission to South Asia by the American intelligence agencies to join the Lashkar-e-Taiba and other such militant organizations, a fact that the US federal officials have acknowledged. In court papers submitted by the FBI, US federal authorities have said that they had hoped to reach top al-Qaeda leaders through him but Headley slipped from the US control to become a terrorist himself.
Somehow, the story does not sound plausible as the account of Headley becoming a rogue should have been immediately reported to the concerned local authorities he had disappeared to and his passport should have been cancelled instantly. But no such thing occurred. Headley carried on with his jaunts from India to Pakistan and to the US with complete confidence, befriending many influential people on the way and the CIA and FBI kept mute. Remarkable!
According to reports issued by the Indians, Headley made eight trips to India and in each trip he set up a logistic base in Mumbai and opened up various accounts. Headley had orchestrated an organized and well structured plan with a clear strategy for his escape after the deed was done. Obviously not a very Talibanised approach towards terrorism! Seems more of a western style to the onlookers.
With the deed of inflicting colossal damage to the Indians, shattering Pakistans reputation as a peaceful nation and bringing ruination to the trust that had built between the two neighbors, Headley kept his composure and was busy devising yet other such horrible plans of destruction.
Could a mere individual be so invincible and unshakable? Who offered him a greater price than the superpower was already doing, to defy the US dictates and change masters? Were the new masters Pakistani? If so then what did Pakistan gain out of the situation? What possible benefit could the ISI have extracted out of such a situation? A maligned reputation!
The aggravated security conditions profits none in the region, but only the external players that includes the US, can gain a large chunk from the chaos and turmoil that South Asia has become, who legitimize their presence in the region by fueling and increasing the turbulence for a protracted and justified intrusion and intervention.
MARYA MUFTI
Lahore
