Headley wants his son to be a top Pak commando

Washington, Jul 10 (PTI) LeT operative David Headley
wants his five-year-old son to one day become a soldier in
Pakistani army's elite Special Service Group (SSG), which is
known for its anti-India operations including the Kargil
incursion and wars of 1965 and 1971.
Headley, who was the star government witness in the
Chicago trial of his childhood friend Tahawwur Rana last
month, had been grooming his son keeping this in mind.
So much so that when his son's football coach asked him
to kick the ball one day by saying shoot, he instead of
kicking the ball, laid down on the ground and posed like he
was shooting a gun indicating the level of his indoctrination.
Headley -- who told the court that he joined Pakistan-
based LeT, which is responsible for several terror strikes in
India, including the Mumbai attacks, because he wanted to
fight against Indian forces in Kashmir -- shared this incident
between his son and football coach with LeT leader Pasha
during a telephonic conversation, according to transcripts
presented before the Chicago court.
"The incident that you are relating to Pasha is something
that you thought he would find to be funny, right?" defence
attorney Patrick Blegan asked.
"Yes," Headley said.
"And the incident -- you tell me if I'm describing it
wrong -- is this: Your son is at a soccer game, correct?" the
defence attorney said.
"Yes," Headley said.
"He plays soccer?" the attorney asked.
"He is five years old," Headley said.
"So obviously he is not great at it yet, right?" Blegan
asked.
"Yes," Headley said.
"And his coach is some English guy, right?" Blegan asked.
"Yes," Headley replied.
"And the coach says to your son, 'shoot, shoot,' right?"
Blegan said.
"Yes," Headley said.
"And instead of kicking the ball, your son lays down and
acts like he is pointing a gun, doesn't he?" Blegan asked.
"Yeah. Yes," Headley answered.
"That's something that you taught your son?" Blegan
asked.
"No. He had seen me -- in my house I would put up a
target and shoot in Pakistan," Headley said.
"That something -- I mean, is that something that you
encouraged your son to do?" asked the defence attorney.
"Yes," Headley said.
"What did you want your son to become one day?" Blegan
asked, to which Headley said may be a soldier.
"SSG may be," Headley said. "I wanted him to be in the
SSG. I told him that many times," he added.
"Were you grooming your children the same way?" Blegan
asked.
"They were being raised as 'Salafis', yes," Headley
said.
"Were you planning to take them back to Pakistan at some
point?" Blegan asked.
"Yes," said Headley.
According to Pakdef.info, SSG -- also known as Black
Strokes -- was established in 1956 and it was immediately used
to train Naga rebels in East Pakistan (now Bangladesh).
SSG played a key role during the unsuccessful Kargil
incursion by Pakistan.
Captain Ammar Hussain, an SSG officer among many others,
was awarded Sitara-e-Jurrat posthumously for inconspicuous
bravery during these operations. PTI LKJ
KAP