WASHINGTON (Diya TV) — In a move long sought after by Indian officials, President Trump announced the United States has approved the extradition of Tahawwur Rana, a suspect in the 2008 Mumbai attacks, to India. Standing alongside Indian Prime Minister Modi at the White House, Trump stated, “We are giving a very violent man back to India immediately.”
Rana, a Pakistani-born Canadian citizen, is charged with supporting the terrorist organization Lashkar-e-Taiba, which planned the Mumbai attacks that killed 166 people. He was previously convicted in the United States for supporting the group and planning an attack on a Danish newspaper. The U.S. Supreme Court recently rejected his extradition petition, paving the way for his extradition to India.
In a statement, jointly made by Trump and Modi, Pakistan was asked to not allow its territory to be used to perpetrate terrorist attacks and to promptly prosecute those involved in such attacks, including those who committed the 2008 Mumbai attack.
Pakistan’s Foreign Office was left disappointed, referring to the announcement as “one-sided and misleading.” Spokesman Shafqat Ali Khan decried the absence of Pakistan’s contributions to fighting terrorism and instead emphasized the country’s efforts to fight extremist forces.
The extradition of Rana is a huge step forward for U.S.-India relations that emphasizes a collective resolve to fight terrorism. It also puts Pakistan on the defensive to take material action against terror networks within the country.
The move is also expected to cement further the strategic ties between Washington and New Delhi, especially in matters of security and counterterrorism.
