On April 9, the United States transferred Tahawwur Hussain Rana to India to stand trial for his involvement in orchestrating the devastating terrorist attacks in Mumbai in 2008, stated Tammy Bruce, spokesperson for the US Department of State, on Thursday.
The United States and India have long pursued justice for the victims of the 26/11 Mumbai attacks, and with the extradition of the accused, Tahawwur Rana, that moment has finally arrived, stated US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Friday.
“We have extradited Tahawwur Hussain Rana to India to face charges related to his involvement in orchestrating the devastating 2008 Mumbai terrorist attacks. Alongside India, we have consistently sought justice for the 166 individuals, including six Americans, who tragically lost their lives in these attacks. I am pleased that this day has come,” Rubio expressed in a post on X.
On Thursday, the State Department remarked that the 26/11 terror attacks had a profound impact on the global community, and the US has supported India’s efforts to ensure that those accountable are held responsible.
“On April 9, the United States extradited Tahawwur Hussain Rana to India to face justice for his involvement in the horrific 2008 Mumbai terrorist attacks,” stated US Department of State Spokesperson Tammy Bruce on Thursday.
“The United States has consistently backed India’s initiatives to bring those responsible for these attacks to justice, and as President Trump has indicated, the US and India will continue to collaborate in the fight against the global threat of terrorism,” she added.
Bruce noted that Rana is now in India’s custody, a development they take great pride in.
She also mentioned that some individuals may not recall the attacks that led to the tragic loss of 166 lives, including six Americans, which shocked the world.
“I urge you to research these events to understand the severity of the situation and its significance today,” she advised.
Previously, a spokesperson for the US Department of Justice conveyed to PTI that Rana’s extradition represents a “critical step toward seeking justice” for the victims of these heinous attacks.
The DOJ spokesperson confirmed that the United States has extradited the convicted terrorist and Pakistani-Canadian national to stand trial in India on ten criminal charges related to his alleged involvement in the 2008 Mumbai terrorist attacks.
Rana’s extradition represents a significant advancement in the pursuit of justice for the six American victims and numerous others who lost their lives in the brutal attacks, according to the spokesperson.
A team from the National Investigation Agency (NIA) arrived in India late Thursday, bringing Rana with them, where he will now be held accountable for his involvement in the 26/11 Mumbai attacks orchestrated by terrorists from Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT).
The multi-agency delegation from India had traveled to the United States, completing all necessary legal procedures to facilitate Rana’s return.
This important development follows Rana’s unsuccessful last-ditch effort to avoid extradition, as the US Supreme Court justices rejected his application, bringing him closer to being surrendered to Indian authorities to face justice for the horrific attacks.
At 64 years old, Rana was detained at the Metropolitan Detention Centre in Los Angeles. On February 27, 2025, he filed an ‘Emergency Application for Stay Pending Litigation of Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus’ with Associate Justice Elena Kagan of the Supreme Court. Kagan had previously denied this application last month.
Subsequently, Rana submitted a renewed ‘Emergency Application for Stay Pending Litigation of Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus’ that was originally addressed to Justice Kagan, requesting that it be redirected to US Chief Justice John Roberts.
An order posted on the Supreme Court’s website indicated that Rana’s renewed application was “distributed for Conference” on April 4 and had been “referred to the court.”
A notice on the Supreme Court’s website on Monday stated: “Application denied by the court.”
In his emergency application, Rana requested a suspension of his extradition and surrender to India while litigation is ongoing, including the completion of all appeals regarding his petition for a writ of habeas corpus submitted on February 13, 2025. He contends that his extradition to India contravenes United States law, specifically the provisions of the United Nations Convention Against Torture, due to significant concerns that he would face torture if extradited.
The application emphasized that the risk of torture is particularly acute in this instance, as Rana, a Muslim of Pakistani descent, is charged in connection with the Mumbai attacks.
It further asserted that his “severe medical conditions” would make extradition to Indian detention facilities tantamount to a “de facto” death sentence.
The application referenced medical records from July 2024, which indicated that Rana suffers from several “acute and life-threatening diagnoses,” including multiple heart attacks, Parkinson’s disease with cognitive decline, a mass indicative of bladder cancer, stage 3 chronic kidney disease, a history of chronic asthma, and recurrent COVID-19 infections.
Thus, the petitioner has presented a credible, if not compelling, factual basis for believing that he would be at significant risk of torture if handed over to Indian authorities.
Moreover, due to his Muslim faith, Pakistani heritage, former affiliation with the Pakistani Army, the nature of the charges related to the 2008 Mumbai attacks, and his ongoing health issues, he is at an even greater risk of torture, which could likely result in his death in a short period.
In February, during a joint press conference at the White House with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, US President Donald Trump declared that his administration had sanctioned the extradition of the “very evil” Tahawwur Rana to “face justice in India.”
The joint statement released during the Prime Minister’s visit to the United States emphasized that both Modi and Trump reiterated the necessity of combating the global threat of terrorism and eliminating terrorist sanctuaries worldwide.
“Recognizing a mutual commitment to hold accountable those who threaten our citizens, the US confirmed the approval of Tahawwur Rana’s extradition to India. The leaders also urged Pakistan to swiftly bring to justice those responsible for the 26/11 Mumbai and Pathankot attacks and to ensure that its territory is not utilized for cross-border terrorist activities,” the joint statement indicated.
Additionally, the leaders committed to collaborating on preventing the spread of weapons of mass destruction and their delivery systems, as well as denying access to such weapons to terrorists and non-state actors.
Rana is known to have connections with Pakistani-American terrorist David Coleman Headley, a key conspirator in the 26/11 attacks.
