The Crossbill News Desk
As Tahawwur Rana’s extradition to India nears, former Union Home Secretary G.K. Pillai has alleged that the United States acted in "bad faith" by protecting David Coleman Headley, the key conspirator behind the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks.
In an interview with The Hindu, Pillai said that while Rana played a relatively “small” and “passive” role in the 26/11 attacks—primarily by helping Headley secure legal cover to operate in India—it was Headley who was deeply involved in the planning and execution of the attacks.
“Even post the 26/11 attack, Headley came back to Mumbai. We could have arrested him in Mumbai if we had known that he is an accomplice in terms of logistics and support. It was definitely bad faith by the Americans. It really shows that as far as the Americans are concerned, they look after only their interests, and not concerned with anybody else’s,” Pillai said.
Pillai further alleged that the US deliberately withheld information about Headley’s background.
“Before 26/11 happened, he (Headley) had made a number of trips to India… from India, he went to Pakistan on his U.S passport. Even our intelligence agencies did not suspect him to be a Pakistani agent primarily because he came on a US passport and could pass off as a white American. The Americans very cleverly concealed his Pakistani identity. Had we known he is of Pakistani origin, every time he came to India, he would have been under surveillance,” Pillai added.
He also noted that Headley was operating as a double agent, working both for the US government and Pakistan’s intelligence agency, the ISI.
After Headley's arrest in 2009, the US offered him a plea bargain, effectively blocking his extradition to India. Pillai called this a deliberate move to shield Headley from facing trial in India, despite his central role in one of the deadliest terror attacks on Indian soil.
In contrast, Pillai described Rana’s role as minor, emphasizing that his involvement was largely logistical, such as helping facilitate Headley’s travel and presence in India.
Rana is currently in US custody and is expected to be extradited to India in connection with the 26/11 case. However, Headley remains out of India’s legal reach due to his cooperation agreement with US authorities.
In an interview with The Hindu, Pillai said that while Rana played a relatively “small” and “passive” role in the 26/11 attacks—primarily by helping Headley secure legal cover to operate in India—it was Headley who was deeply involved in the planning and execution of the attacks.
“Even post the 26/11 attack, Headley came back to Mumbai. We could have arrested him in Mumbai if we had known that he is an accomplice in terms of logistics and support. It was definitely bad faith by the Americans. It really shows that as far as the Americans are concerned, they look after only their interests, and not concerned with anybody else’s,” Pillai said.
Pillai further alleged that the US deliberately withheld information about Headley’s background.
“Before 26/11 happened, he (Headley) had made a number of trips to India… from India, he went to Pakistan on his U.S passport. Even our intelligence agencies did not suspect him to be a Pakistani agent primarily because he came on a US passport and could pass off as a white American. The Americans very cleverly concealed his Pakistani identity. Had we known he is of Pakistani origin, every time he came to India, he would have been under surveillance,” Pillai added.
He also noted that Headley was operating as a double agent, working both for the US government and Pakistan’s intelligence agency, the ISI.
After Headley's arrest in 2009, the US offered him a plea bargain, effectively blocking his extradition to India. Pillai called this a deliberate move to shield Headley from facing trial in India, despite his central role in one of the deadliest terror attacks on Indian soil.
In contrast, Pillai described Rana’s role as minor, emphasizing that his involvement was largely logistical, such as helping facilitate Headley’s travel and presence in India.
Rana is currently in US custody and is expected to be extradited to India in connection with the 26/11 case. However, Headley remains out of India’s legal reach due to his cooperation agreement with US authorities.
Comments (0)
Leave a Comment