In an effort to speed up the extradition of Tahawwur Rana, a major suspect in the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks, India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) declared on January 31, 2025, that it is actively working with the United States on procedural issues. The U.S. Supreme Court recently rejected Rana’s plea against extradition, removing a major legal obstacle in the process, according to MEA spokeswoman Randhir Jaiswal.
A Canadian citizen of Pakistani descent named Tahawwur Rana is charged with taking part in the 26/11 Mumbai attacks, which killed 166 people, including six Americans. He was associated with another conspirator, David Coleman Headley, who has already entered a guilty plea and assisted U.S. investigators in their investigation of Rana. After a number of court challenges in the United States, including a
According to the MEA’s statement, talks with U.S. officials are concentrated on completing the formalities required for Rana’s return to India following the Supreme Court’s decision on January 21 that rejected his last petition. The U.S. State Department is now considering its options for Rana’s extradition and has stated its longstanding support for India’s attempts to prosecute those responsible for the Mumbai attacks.
The extradition of Rana might shed more light on local participation in the Mumbai attacks and offer information about larger terrorist networks based in Pakistan. Indian security services are hoping that Rana will reveal important details regarding his ties to several terrorist groups and the individuals who planned and carried out the assaults.
