NEW DELHI: In a significant move against terrorism, the United States has agreed to extradite Tahawwur Rana, one of the accused in the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks. Meanwhile, India and the US have jointly called on Pakistan to swiftly bring to justice the perpetrators of both the Mumbai and Pathankot air base attacks.
At a joint press conference in Washington, US President Donald Trump announced, “I am pleased to announce that my administration has approved the extradition of one of the plotters (Tahawwur Rana) and one of the very evil people of the world, having to do with the horrific 2008 Mumbai terrorist attack. He is going back to India to face justice.”
A joint statement following the bilateral meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Trump emphasised the need for Pakistan to ensure that its territory is not used for cross-border terrorism.
The two leaders reaffirmed their commitment to combating global terrorism and eliminating terrorist safe havens. They pledged to strengthen cooperation against terrorist groups such as Al-Qaeda, ISIS, Jaish-e-Mohammed and Lashkar-e-Taiba to prevent future attacks like the 26/11 Mumbai massacre. The statement also referenced the August 26, 2021, Abbey Gate bombing in Afghanistan.
Additionally, Modi and Trump committed to working together to prevent the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and their delivery systems, ensuring such capabilities do not fall into the hands of terrorists or non-state actors. Pakistan-origin businessman Tahawwur Hussain Rana, convicted for his role in the 26/11 Mumbai attacks that claimed 164 lives, has exhausted all legal avenues in the US.