'No convincing denial from Pak of Headley charges against ISI'

Washington, Jun 4: More than a week after David Headley accused ISI of training him in terrorist operation and espionage system, there has been no "convincing" denial from Pakistan, a top US counter-terrorism expert has said, underscoring the need to hold that country "very accountable".

"We haven't seen any convincing denials from Pakistan.We haven't seen to my knowledge, any investigations as to who this Major Iqbal is and what his role is.

"... this is another area where we need to hold Pakistan very accountable," Bruce Hoffman, Director at the Centre for Peace and Security Studies, a Washington-based eminent think-tank, told lawmakers at a Congressional hearing on terrorist threats emanating from Pakistan.

Deposing before a Chicago court as a star witness in the US vs Tahawwur Rana case, Headley claimed that he was an agent of the ISI, to the effect that one of his ISI handlers ''Major Iqbal'' not only knew of the Mumbai plot but also made absolutely no effort to stop the plans of LeT to target American citizens, both at the Jewish Chabad House and the Taj hotel, Hoffman said.

Pakistan has denied those charges, which Hoffman said are not convincing at all.

Congressman Michael McCaul, who currently serves as the Chairman of the Subcommittee on Oversight, Investigations and Management, said: "It's a great point. How many other of these wanted terrorists are being provided with safe haven by Pakistan, who we provide so much aid to and purportedly work together with to eradicate the terrorists."

PTI