The Mumbai 26/11 attack was probably one of the worst terror attacks the world has ever seen. It played out for nearly 48 hours before the nine terrorists of the Lashkar-e-Tayiba were killed by the security. The lone surviving terrorist, Ajmal Kasab was caught alive.
While Kasab did provide plenty of information about the attack, several mysteries remain till date. The biggest mystery is regarding the local link and investigators have for long denied the possibility of the same. The other mysteries involve the involvement of Major Iqbal, Major Samir Ali and Sajid Mir.
David Headley who had carried out the reconnaissance of the targets in Mumbai did speak about these persons, but refused to divulge more information as he had a plea bargain deal with the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Thanks to this deal, he only told the National Investigation Agency (NIA) what he had already confessed with the FBI.
The NIA would hope to unravel these mysteries through Headley’s friend, Tahawwur Rana whose extradition was cleared by the US Supreme Court. Both Headley and Rana had the same handlers and they worked closely with each other to ensure that the former’s trips to Mumbai, Delhi and Pune went on smoothly.
Rana is not under the compulsion of any plea bargain deal and hence will be free to reveal more to the NIA. Rana who told a US court that he is not part of the Lashkar-e-Tayiba but with the ISI itself is an indication that the Pakistan spy agency had masterminded this entire attack. Rana would also be in a position to spill out more information on the two Majors and Sajid Mir.
Unravelling the mystery
In 2020, a court had issued a non-bailable warrant against Major Iqbal and Major Ali. Although this was a mere formality since it is impossible to get these two persons from Pakistan, it was however significant considering the profile of the two persons.
Leave alone acknowledge their role in the attack, Islamabad has denied their very presence or existence.
With Rana set to be questioned by by the NIA in India, the role of the entire Pakistan establishment in the attack is set to become clear. Rana is no small fry and he during a hearing in a US court had said that he worked for the ISI and not the Lashkar-e-Tayiba. The NIA is confident that Rana would speak more once he is in their custody and this could clear several doubts with regards to the establishment in Pakistan. The details provided by Rana would put the Pakistan spy agency in an embarrassing situation and it would be interesting to see what Islamabad would have to say about the same.
According to the NIA, Major Ali has retired, by Major Iqbal is still in the force. Headley was in close contact with these officials when the attack was being planned. It was their expertise that eventually helped Headley carry out a reconnaissance of the targets in Mumbai.
It was Headley who had in fact spilt the beans about these two officials. While the US court did acknowledge the testimony by Headley where Major Ali was concerned, it turned a blind eye when it came to Major Iqbal.
The role of these Majors is very crucial for the probe and this would go on to show the extent up to which they helped Headley and Rana. It was Rana who played a crucial role in arranging Headley’s travel to Mumbai and during the process he is said to have been in touch with the two Majors.
It is not just the handling of Rana or Headley which would remain in focus. The NIA is also investigating the money trail and funding for Headley which helped him carry out his job. While Rana would give a clearer picture of the same, the NIA has learnt that Headley was paid $ 25000 by Major Iqbal for his travel to Mumbai. It was also found that Major Iqbal had moved fake currency to the rule of Rs 12 lakh. This money was sent to a tout who in turn exchanged the same and reached it to Headley on his arrival in Mumbai. Rana’s probe will help the NIA fix the mystery around the money trail.
During Ajmal Kasab’s interrogation, it became clear that some retired officials of the Pakistan navy were present during their training. They had been taught on how to use the sea to reach their destination. There were also returned officials of the army who had helped the Lashkar-e-Tayiba train the ten terrorists to undertake the operation.
The Rana and Headley link to the case would expose the role of the ISI as its top brass sat through every meeting that was held in the run up to the reconnaissance. The meetings that were attended by Headley were chaired by the two Majors. Headley was also flanked by top Lashkar-e-Tayiba operatives Sajid Mir, Abu Kaahfa and Zaki-ur-Rehman Lakhvi.
Major Iqbal kept in close contact with both Headley and Rana. He checked on the trips made by Headley in real time. Once the job was done, the photographs and other details relating to the targets were handed over to Major Iqbal who in turn provided details to the Lashkar-e-Tayiba.
Rana’s probe could well go beyond the Mumbai 26/11 attacks. He knew everything that Headley was up to and kept in close contact with the ISI updating them with relevant details. The NIA learnt that apart from scouting for targets, Headley was also asked to gather information about the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC). He was also told to gather details about the Shiv Sena Bhawan which is located in Central Mumbai.
The mysterious Sajid Mir
Sajid Mir has remained a mystery figure in this entire incident. If one details the role played by him, it was very huge. In fact he was a central figure who not only coordinated with the terrorists, but all those who worked to ensure that this attack was a success.
Mir had in fact chosen the targets to be surveyed before Headley had landed. Mir had visited Mumbai as a cricket fan and even watched a match. It is said that during this time, he had looked around and decided what targets would be hit. It was based on his inputs that Headley was flown into Mumbai to conduct a detailed analysis of the targets.
When it comes to Mir, there have been many versions. The first was Mir was just a cleric at some Mosque in Pakistan. The second was that he was an officer in the ISI. The third was that a man like this did not exist.
Getting the details of the role played by the two Majors and Sajid Mir is very crucial for the investigation. It is the last straw for the NIA to expose to the world as to how deeply the Pakistan deep-state was involved in this attack.
