Trump Greenlights Extradition of Tahawwur Rana for 26/11 Terror Attack

Washington, Feb 14 (NationPress) In a significant declaration following his discussions with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, US President Donald Trump announced that his administration has sanctioned the extradition of Tahawwur Rana, who is accused in the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks, to India. During a joint press conference with PM Modi post their bilateral meeting, Trump stated, "I am delighted to inform that my administration has authorized the extradition of one of the conspirators (Tahawwur Rana), a truly malevolent figure associated with the dreadful 2008 Mumbai terrorist attack, to confront justice in India."

"He is returning to India to face justice," he further added.

PM Modi expressed gratitude towards the US for taking this stand and thanked President Trump for confirming the extradition.

"A perpetrator of the Mumbai terror attack is being extradited for his interrogation and trial in India. I appreciate President Trump for accelerating the process," he remarked.

This revelation follows the US Supreme Court's dismissal of Rana's review petition on January 21, clearing the path for his extradition to India.

"In light of the recent Supreme Court ruling, and in accordance with relevant US law, the Department of State is currently assessing the subsequent steps in this case," stated the US State Department.

"We have consistently backed India's endeavors to ensure that the perpetrators of the Mumbai terrorist attacks are brought to justice," the statement continued.

Tahawwur Hussain Rana, a businessman of Pakistani origin, is implicated in the 2008 Mumbai attacks that resulted in the deaths of 166 individuals, including six Americans. He has connections to David Coleman Headley, a key conspirator in the attacks.

He will be interrogated by Indian authorities and will face trial in India.

Rana is also alleged to have close ties with Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI). A comprehensive charge sheet exceeding 400 pages from the Mumbai Police outlines that Tahawwur Hussain Rana arrived in India on November 11, 2008, and remained in the country until November 21. He spent two of those days at the Renaissance Hotel in Mumbai's Powai. The Mumbai crime branch uncovered email correspondence between Headley and Rana. In one of the emails concerning the 26/11 terror attacks, David Headley sought Major Iqbal's email address. Major Iqbal, an operative of the Pakistani intelligence agency ISI, has been named as a suspect in the 26/11 terror attack case.

Previously, Rana faced prosecution in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois. The second superseding indictment charged him with three counts. The jury found him guilty on Count 11 (conspiracy to provide material support to terrorism in Denmark). Additionally, the jury convicted Rana on Count 12 (providing material support to Lashkar-e-Taiba).