World
India
Tahawwur Rana, a Pakistani-origin Canadian businessman accused of facilitating the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks, has been extradited from the United States and is expected to land in India early tomorrow morning. A special team of intelligence and investigative officials is accompanying him, according to reports.
A specially arranged aircraft is transporting Rana, making a stop at an undisclosed location before reaching New Delhi. Authorities have ensured tight security measures at two jails in Delhi and Mumbai in anticipation of his arrival, as recommended by a US court.
US Court Greenlights Extradition
Upon reaching India, Rana will be presented before a National Investigation Agency (NIA) court in New Delhi for custody, with the Mumbai Crime Branch set to take over his detention later, reports confirmed. The extradition operation is being closely monitored by National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, along with senior officials from the NIA and the Ministry of Home Affairs.
The decision to extradite Rana to India was welcomed by External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar. Speaking at the CNN News18 Rising Bharat Summit 2025, he stated, “There’s nothing really new that I can say on the Tahawwur Rana issue. Obviously, we welcome the decision of the American legal process.”
Who is Tahawwur Rana?
Rana, originally from Pakistan, served as a doctor in the Pakistani Army before moving to Canada in the 1990s, obtaining citizenship in the early 2000s. He later moved to Chicago, where he ran an immigration agency that was later revealed to be a front for terrorist activities.
In 2009, Rana was arrested in the US for his role in the 26/11 Mumbai attacks and a planned attack on a Danish newspaper that had published controversial cartoons of the Prophet. A US court found him guilty of providing material support to terrorist groups involved in these plots.
Rana’s Role in the 26/11 Attacks
Indian investigators have identified Rana as a key facilitator of the 26/11 attacks, largely due to his close association with David Coleman Headley (alias Dawood Gilani), a Pakistani-American who conducted reconnaissance of Mumbai targets.
Rana and Headley were childhood friends, having studied together at Cadet College Hasanabdal in Pakistan’s Attock district. Their long-standing relationship played a crucial role in the planning of the attacks.
How Tahawwur Rana Helped the Attackers
Authorities believe that Rana provided Headley with logistical support by establishing a Mumbai branch of his immigration services firm, First World Immigration Services, in 2006. This setup served as a cover for Headley, who conducted surveillance of locations later targeted in the attacks.
According to a supplementary chargesheet filed by Mumbai Police in 2023, Rana traveled to India just days before the 26/11 attacks. He stayed at the Renaissance Hotel in Mumbai’s Powai area between November 11 and 21, 2008. The attacks occurred on November 26, just five days after his departure.
Investigators have also uncovered email correspondence in which Headley sought instructions from Rana. Officials claim that Rana acted as a bridge between Headley and Pakistan’s intelligence agency, the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI).
Ties to ISI and Other Terror Links
Documents submitted in US courts indicate that both Rana and Headley had close connections with ISI officer Major Iqbal, believed to be the mastermind of the Mumbai attacks. Rana is alleged to have personally visited Mumbai from Dubai ahead of the attacks to ensure all arrangements were in place.
A US Department of Justice document revealed that Rana and Headley were arrested in 2009 while plotting an attack on a Danish newspaper and providing material support to Lashkar-e-Taiba between 2005 and 2009.
In his testimony, Headley disclosed that in 2006, he and two Lashkar operatives discussed setting up an immigration office in Mumbai as a cover for surveillance. After returning to Chicago, he informed Rana about this plan, and Rana allegedly helped secure a visa for Headley to travel to India multiple times between 2007 and 2008.
Evidence Agaist Tahawwur Rana
Evidence also suggests that Rana directly communicated with Headley using an alias in emails sent to the Danish newspaper. By late 2009, both had agreed that funds transferred to Rana could be used to support Headley’s operations in Denmark.
A US Justice Department report noted, “Rana directed an individual associated with First World to prepare documents supporting Headley’s cover story and advised him on obtaining a visa for travel to India.” Additionally, email exchanges between Headley and Rana referencing Major Iqbal were later recovered by Mumbai Police.
The 26/11 Mumbai Terror Attacks
The 2008 Mumbai terror attacks left 166 people dead, including six Americans. Ten Pakistani terrorists launched a coordinated assault, holding the city hostage for over 60 hours. Key locations, including the Taj Mahal Palace Hotel, Oberoi Trident Hotel, CST railway station, and Nariman House, were among the sites targeted.
Indian and US authorities continue to assert that Rana played a crucial role in facilitating these attacks, making his extradition a significant step in holding those responsible accountable.
