India says David Headley deposition tenable

India on Friday strongly backed the validity of the deposition of Lashkar-e-Tayyaba operative David Coleman Headley in a Mumbai court, saying it was admissible under law, even as there are indications that the proposed foreign secretary-level talks between the two countries are likely to be further delayed till Pakistan takes concrete steps against persons on its soil who were responsible for the Pathankot terror attack, including filing of an FIR. India also seized on former Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf’s admission that ISI trains LeT and Jaish militants and asked Pakistan’s “state actors” to stop supporting terrorism in the region. There are also indications that the Pakistani political leadership is planning to project that JuD chief Maulana Masood Azhar has escaped from the country in order to avoid the responsibility of arresting him.

“Headley’s testimony is in relation to the Mumbai terror attack and the testimony is self-explanatory... It is up to Pakistan to investigate and expose fully the conspiracy in Pakistan behind the Mumbai terror attack and bring all concerned to justice... Headley’s deposition once again confirms this view, if any confirmation was needed after the confession of Ajmal Kasab,” MEA spokesperson Vikas Swarup said. The MEA also asked Pakistan to “expose fully the conspiracy” behind the Mumbai terrorist attack.

“Musharraf’s admission on ISI involvement in terrorist activities in India speaks for itself and it reinforces once again the need for stopping support from state actors to terrorism in our region,” the MEA spokesperson said.

Asked about the status of the proposed Indo-Pak foreign secretary level talks that were to take place “very soon”, he said the national security advisers and the foreign secretaries were in touch with each other respectively.

On reports that the Pakistan government has dismissed evidence given by India in the Pathankot terror attack, Mr Swarup said the NSAs were in contact and the government will go by the “official line” and not by some media reports.

Sources said India expects concrete action by Pakistan, including filing of FIRs against the JuD and its leadership, for the Pathankot terror strike.

Asked about Pakistan high commissioner Abdul Basit’s remarks of demilitarisation of Siachen, the spokesperson said Siachen has always been part of the bilateral dialogue process and will be discussed at the right time.

When asked about the recent meeting of Kashmiri separatist leaders with Mr Basit here, he said government’s position was very clear that Jammu and Kashmir is an integral part of India and the issue can be only discussed between the two countries bilaterally.