New Delhi: The US State Department reaffirmed its dedication to fighting global terrorism in partnership with India late Thursday, following the extradition of Tahawwur Rana, a key conspirator in the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks, to India from Washington DC.
“On April 9th, the United States extradited Tahawwur Hussain Rana to India to face justice for his involvement in orchestrating the horrific 2008 Mumbai terrorist attacks… These attacks led to the tragic deaths of 166 individuals, including six Americans, and shocked the world,” stated US State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce, as reported by ANI.
Bruce emphasized that the US has consistently backed India’s initiatives to hold those accountable for the attacks.
“The United States has a long-standing commitment to support India’s efforts to ensure that those responsible for these attacks are brought to justice. As President Trump has stated, the United States and India will continue to collaborate in the fight against the global threat of terrorism. We take pride in this partnership,” she added.
Tahawwur Rana was extradited to India
Tahawwur Rana, aged 64, arrived in India on Wednesday following his extradition from the United States.
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has placed Rana in custody for 18 days. The anti-terror agency plans to interrogate him thoroughly to uncover the full extent of the conspiracy behind the devastating 26/11 attacks.
“Rana will be held in NIA custody for 18 days, during which the agency will conduct detailed questioning to expose the complete conspiracy behind the deadly 2008 attacks, which resulted in 166 fatalities and over 238 injuries,” the NIA stated shortly after the court’s ruling.
Rana is accused of collaborating with David Coleman Headley, also known as Daood Gilani, and members of designated terrorist organizations Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and Harkat-ul-Jihadi Islami (HUJI), along with other co-conspirators based in Pakistan, to execute the three-day terror siege on India’s financial capital.
On November 26, 2008, a cohort of ten terrorists from Pakistan executed a series of coordinated attacks targeting a railway station, two upscale hotels, and a Jewish community center. They infiltrated India’s financial hub via the maritime route in the Arabian Sea. The nearly 60-hour assault resulted in the deaths of 166 individuals.
