In a major declaration after his bilateral talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, US President Donald Trump said the United States has agreed to extradite Tavavur Rana, accused of the 2008 Mumbai terror attack. The main accused in the 26/11 terror attack is currently in a high security jail in the United States and India has been demanding their extradition for years.
President Trump said, “We are handing over a very dangerous person to India, who is accused of 26/11 Mumbai terror attack.”
Recently as on January 21, 2025, the US Supreme Court rejected the review petition of Tavavur Rana for India’s extradition. The US State Department said, “In view of the recent Supreme Court verdict, and in line with the US law, the state department is currently evaluating the next steps in the matter.”
“We have long supported India’s efforts to give justice to criminals of Mumbai terror attacks,” the statement said.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi appreciated the US’s stand for extradite the accused of terror and thanked President Trump for confirming his extradition. “A criminal of the Mumbai terror attack is being extradited in India for their inquiry and testing. I thank President Trump for accelerating the process.”
Pakistani original businessman Tavavur Hussain Rana, who was convicted for his role in 26/11 attacks on Mumbai, resulting in 164 people to die, now Indian agencies and face trials will be questioned in India.
Rana was made aware of the Mumbai terror strike and was in touch with terrorist groups and their leaders in Pakistan. Rana was included in the co-ancients, others, David Coleman Headley. Headley convicted and cooperated against Rana.
Rana is also accused of having a close link with Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI).
The more than 400 -page charge sheet by the Mumbai Police mentions that Tahwur Hussain Rana came to India on 11 November 2008 and stayed in the country till 21 November. He spent two of these days at the Renaissance Hotel in Pavai, Mumbai.
The Mumbai Crime Branch found email communication between Headley and Rana. In one of the emails related to the 26/11 terror attacks, David Headley asked about the email ID of Major Iqbal.
Major Iqbal, an operative Major Iqbal at the Pakistani Intelligence Agency Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), was named as an accused in the 26/11 terror attack case.
Rana was earlier prosecuted in the district court of the United States for the northern district of Illinois. The second superseding prosecution accused him in three cases. The jury blamed him on Count 11 (conspiracy to provide material assistance to terrorism in Denmark). The jury also convicted Rana on Count 12 (provides material assistance to Lashkar-e-Tiba).
On November 26, 2008, 166 people including 20 security forces personnel and 26 foreigners were killed and more than 300 injured in the horrific terrorist attack at the prestigious Taj Mahal Hotel in Mumbai.