‘Commended 26/11 attackers, said deserves Pak honour’: US reveals key details of Rana’s role and extradition process

NEW DELHI: India on Thursday successfully secured the custody of Tahawwur Hussain Rana, a key conspirator in the 26/11 Mumbai attacks. His extradition marks a significant step toward justice for the 166 lives lost in the devastating terrorist assault.
In an official statement, the US Department of Justice disclosed new details about Rana and his links to David Headley, another key figure involved in planning the attack.
According to the US Department of Justice, Rana allegedly facilitated a fraudulent cover for Headley, allowing him to travel to Mumbai under the guise of business activities.
Rana is accused of opening a Mumbai branch of his immigration business and appointing Headley as the manager, despite Headley's lack of immigration experience. This arrangement purportedly enabled Headley to conduct surveillance of potential attack sites for LeT. Rana also allegedly assisted in preparing and submitting visa applications to Indian authorities that contained false information.
The statement further noted that over more than two years, Headley allegedly met with Rana in Chicago to discuss his surveillance activities on behalf of LeT. After the attacks, Rana allegedly told Headley that the Indians "deserved it" and commended the nine LeT terrorists who were killed during the attacks, stating they "should be given Nishan-e-Haider"—Pakistan’s highest award for gallantry in battle.
"Among other things, Rana allegedly agreed to open a Mumbai branch of his immigration business and appoint Headley as the manager of the office, despite Headley’s having no immigration experience. On two separate occasions, Rana allegedly helped Headley prepare and submit visa applications to Indian authorities that contained information Rana knew to be false. Rana also allegedly supplied, through his unsuspecting business partner, documentation in support of Headley’s attempt to secure formal approval from Indian authorities to open a branch office of Rana’s business," the statement said.
Rana's extradition follows a series of legal proceedings in the United States. In 2013, he was sentenced to 14 years in prison in the Northern District of Illinois for conspiring to provide material support to LeT and to a foiled LeT-sponsored terrorist plot in Copenhagen, Denmark. Headley, as part of the same proceedings, pleaded guilty to 12 federal terrorism charges, including aiding and abetting the murders of six Americans in Mumbai, and was sentenced to 35 years in prison.
India formally requested Rana’s extradition in June 2020. After nearly five years of legal challenges, a US magistrate judge certified Rana’s extradition in May 2023. Subsequent appeals, including a petition for a writ of habeas corpus and an application for a stay of extradition, were denied by the U.S. District Court, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, and ultimately, the US Supreme Court. The Secretary of State then issued a warrant ordering Rana’s surrender to Indian authorities, which was executed by the US Marshals Service on April 9.
reuters.com
The extradition process involved coordination among various US agencies, including the Office of International Affairs, the US Marshals Service, and the FBI's Legal Attaché Office in New Delhi. The Department of Justice emphasized that Rana's extradition is a critical step toward seeking justice for the victims of the Mumbai attacks.