Washington– U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Friday welcomed the extradition of Tahawwur Hussain Rana—a key conspirator in the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks—to India, saying that both Washington and New Delhi have “long sought justice” for the victims of the deadly assault.
“We extradited Tahawwur Hussain Rana to India to face charges for his role in planning the horrific 2008 Mumbai terrorist attacks. Together with India, we’ve long sought justice for the 166 people, including six Americans, who lost their lives in these attacks. I’m glad that day has come,” Rubio posted on X Friday evening, India time.
Rana, a 64-year-old Pakistan-born Canadian national, had been held in U.S. judicial custody under proceedings initiated through the India-U.S. Extradition Treaty. His extradition came after he exhausted all legal avenues to contest the move.
Indian intelligence agencies worked in close coordination with U.S. authorities for years to bring the case to a successful conclusion, culminating in the extradition of one of the key conspirators behind the 2008 attacks.
Coincidentally, Rubio and Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar spoke by phone on April 7, reaffirming the strength of the India-U.S. strategic partnership and discussing opportunities to deepen cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region.
“Good to speak with Secretary Rubio today. Exchanged perspectives on the Indo-Pacific, the Indian subcontinent, Europe, the Middle East/West Asia, and the Caribbean. Agreed on the importance of the early conclusion of the Bilateral Trade Agreement. Look forward to remaining in touch,” Jaishankar said following the conversation.
Shortly after Rana arrived in New Delhi, U.S. State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce confirmed the extradition during a press briefing, stating: “The United States has extradited Tahawwur Hussain Rana to India to face justice for his role in planning the horrific 2008 Mumbai terrorist attacks.”
“The United States has long supported India’s efforts to ensure those responsible for these attacks are brought to justice, and as President Trump has said, the United States and India will continue to work together to combat the global scourge of terrorism,” she added.
The U.S. Department of Justice also issued a statement noting that Rana—a convicted terrorist, Canadian citizen, and native of Pakistan—is charged in India with multiple offenses, including conspiracy, murder, commission of a terrorist act, and forgery. The charges stem from his alleged involvement in the 2008 Mumbai attacks carried out by Lashkar-e-Taiba, a designated foreign terrorist organization.
The department emphasized that the 2008 attacks remain “among the most horrific and catastrophic in India’s history.” (Source: IANS)
