‘Kasab was to be traded with 26/11 Israeli hostages’

Pakistani-American LeT terrorist-turned-approver David Headley said here on Friday that attempts were made to trade Israeli hostages in Mumbai for the release of Ajmal Kasab, the Pakistani terrorist caught alive in the 26/11 strike.

Headley said he had also suggested to his handlers in Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) to “honour” the nine other terrorists who lost their lives during 26/11 at the hands of Indian security personnel with ‘Nishan-e-Haider’, Pakistan’s highest gallantry award. 

Headley made the revelations before Special Judge GA Sanap in his responses during his cross-examination by Abdul Wahab Khan, lawyer for Sayed Zabiuddin Ansari alias Abu Jundal, one of the prime accused in the 26/11 Mumbai terror attack.

After Kasab was caught alive by the Indian forces  early in the morning on November 27, 2008, at the height of the terror strikes, Headley’s main contact in LeT – Sajid Mir – had ordered the attackers of Chabad House in Colaba to keep the Israeli hostages taken there at gunpoint.

They were to contact the Israeli PM and its embassy in a bid to build pressure on the Indian government for securing Kasab’s release, Headley said, reiterating what he had mentioned to an American court during his trial there in May 2011.