The Crossbill News Desk
Tahawwur Rana, a Canadian national of Pakistani origin accused of conspiring in the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks, was extradited from the United States and landed in Delhi on Thursday evening. Upon arrival, he was formally arrested by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) at the Indira Gandhi International Airport.
Escorted by personnel from the National Security Guard and the NIA, Rana was brought aboard a flight from Los Angeles, marking a significant step in India’s long-standing efforts to bring perpetrators of cross-border terrorism to justice.
In a statement, the NIA described Rana as a “key conspirator” and “mastermind” behind the 26/11 attacks, which claimed 166 lives and injured hundreds more across multiple locations in Mumbai.
Rana’s extradition follows years of legal proceedings in the United States, where the Biden administration moved to extradite him under a bilateral treaty. Despite multiple appeals, US courts, including the Supreme Court, upheld the decision.
His return was officially confirmed during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Washington earlier this year, with then-President Donald Trump acknowledging the extradition as a high-priority move.
The NIA has accused Rana of conspiring with American national David Coleman Headley, operatives of Lashkar-e-Tayyiba (LeT), and the Harkat-ul-Jihad Islami terror outfit to execute the coordinated attacks in Mumbai.
Headley, Rana’s childhood friend, used Rana’s Chicago-based immigration firm’s Mumbai branch as a front to conduct surveillance for the LeT. Rana also assisted Headley in obtaining Indian visas to facilitate the plot.
Rana was previously convicted in the US in 2011 for providing material support to LeT and for involvement in a separate terror plot targeting a Danish newspaper. However, he was acquitted of direct involvement in the Mumbai attacks by the US court. He was sentenced to 14 years in prison, while Headley received a 35-year sentence after pleading guilty to charges that included conspiracy to bomb public places in India and provide support to LeT. Headley’s plea deal included a non-extradition clause, and he remains in US custody.
Rana’s extradition became possible after his release from prison on compassionate grounds in June 2020, upon which the US government filed a complaint for his provisional arrest at India’s request.
According to former US ambassador Eric Garcetti, the two governments had developed an “airtight” case to ensure Rana’s extradition, The Times of India had reported.
In response to his return to India, Pakistan has sought to distance itself from Rana, with foreign office spokesperson Shafqat Ali Khan stating that Rana is not a Pakistani citizen and has not renewed any Pakistani documentation in over two decades.
Rana’s arrest in India marks a major milestone in the pursuit of accountability for one of the worst terror attacks in the country’s history. He is expected to face trial under Indian law in the coming weeks.
Escorted by personnel from the National Security Guard and the NIA, Rana was brought aboard a flight from Los Angeles, marking a significant step in India’s long-standing efforts to bring perpetrators of cross-border terrorism to justice.
In a statement, the NIA described Rana as a “key conspirator” and “mastermind” behind the 26/11 attacks, which claimed 166 lives and injured hundreds more across multiple locations in Mumbai.
Rana’s extradition follows years of legal proceedings in the United States, where the Biden administration moved to extradite him under a bilateral treaty. Despite multiple appeals, US courts, including the Supreme Court, upheld the decision.
His return was officially confirmed during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Washington earlier this year, with then-President Donald Trump acknowledging the extradition as a high-priority move.
The NIA has accused Rana of conspiring with American national David Coleman Headley, operatives of Lashkar-e-Tayyiba (LeT), and the Harkat-ul-Jihad Islami terror outfit to execute the coordinated attacks in Mumbai.
Headley, Rana’s childhood friend, used Rana’s Chicago-based immigration firm’s Mumbai branch as a front to conduct surveillance for the LeT. Rana also assisted Headley in obtaining Indian visas to facilitate the plot.
Rana was previously convicted in the US in 2011 for providing material support to LeT and for involvement in a separate terror plot targeting a Danish newspaper. However, he was acquitted of direct involvement in the Mumbai attacks by the US court. He was sentenced to 14 years in prison, while Headley received a 35-year sentence after pleading guilty to charges that included conspiracy to bomb public places in India and provide support to LeT. Headley’s plea deal included a non-extradition clause, and he remains in US custody.
Rana’s extradition became possible after his release from prison on compassionate grounds in June 2020, upon which the US government filed a complaint for his provisional arrest at India’s request.
According to former US ambassador Eric Garcetti, the two governments had developed an “airtight” case to ensure Rana’s extradition, The Times of India had reported.
In response to his return to India, Pakistan has sought to distance itself from Rana, with foreign office spokesperson Shafqat Ali Khan stating that Rana is not a Pakistani citizen and has not renewed any Pakistani documentation in over two decades.
Rana’s arrest in India marks a major milestone in the pursuit of accountability for one of the worst terror attacks in the country’s history. He is expected to face trial under Indian law in the coming weeks.
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