In a chilling revelation that adds a new dimension to the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) has unearthed a previously unknown plot to target the National Defence College (NDC) in Delhi. The findings came during the interrogation of Tahawwur Rana, a key conspirator recently extradited from the United States.
Sources within the NIA disclosed that Rana and fellow plotter David Coleman Headley had meticulously planned an attack on the NDC, which houses senior Indian Army officers, including brigadiers and generals. The attack was to be executed with the active backing of two Pakistani Army officers—Major Abdul Rehman Pasha and Major Iqbal, both alleged to be operatives of Pakistan’s spy agency, Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI).
“This was not just a terror strike—they wanted to decapitate India’s military leadership in one blow,” an NIA official said.
$25,000 for espionage and reconnaissance
The NIA further revealed that Iqbal provided Headley with $25,000 to carry out reconnaissance missions across India. The money was used to scout strategic locations such as the Taj Mahal Palace Hotel, other key installations in Mumbai and the NDC in Delhi.
“In 2006, Headley reportedly met with Iqbal in Pakistan, where he received maps and layouts of several Indian institutions. This meeting allegedly also involved top leaders from Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM)—two proscribed terror groups known for cross-border attacks on India,” said an NIA official.
NIA sources said Tahawwur Rana, a Canadian citizen of Pakistani origin, played a vital role in helping Headley establish a false identity in India. Under the guise of managing an immigration consultancy firm in Mumbai, Headley freely conducted surveillance across the city, including high-value targets like the Mumbai Port and the Taj Hotel.
“This firm gave Headley the perfect cover. It allowed him to blend in and conduct reconnaissance without attracting attention,” said an investigator.
Chilling conversations ahead of the 26/11 attacks
In May 2008, just months before the Mumbai attacks, Headley shared the entire blueprint of the planned operation with Rana. “The prime suspect in our custody laughed upon hearing the plan, showing no remorse or hesitation. Headley disclosed that the attackers would land by boat near the Taj Hotel—a method later executed with deadly precision, the officer added.
The pair allegedly revisited and refined the strategy a week before the assault, underlining Rana’s deep involvement in the conspiracy.
Investigators are now pursuing leads connecting Rana’s immigration consultancy and travel agency to extremist networks. “Several employees of the firm are under the scanner for suspected links with terror outfits. Early findings reveal that Rana visited terror training camps in Pakistan at least five times between 2002 and 2005,” said the officer..
Five espionage trips by Headley paved the way
According to the NIA, David Headley made five trips to India on instructions from Lashkar-e-Taiba, gathering vital intel that directly contributed to the scale and coordination of the 26/11 attacks, which killed 166 people and injured hundreds. His ability to operate undetected for years showcases the sophistication of the terror network involved.
After his extradition last Thursday, Tahawwur Rana was brought to Delhi on a special flight and has been remanded to 18 days of NIA custody. During intense interrogations at NIA headquarters, Rana has already revealed explosive details that could have far-reaching implications.
The NIA is currently working to corroborate these disclosures and expand its investigation into the global terror infrastructure that facilitated one of India’s most devastating attacks.
This new revelation underscores the transnational nature of the 26/11 conspiracy and points to a broader agenda beyond Mumbai, targeting India’s military leadership and strategic assets.
