More than 16 years after the horrific 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks that left the nation scarred, one of the key accused, Tahawwur Hussain Rana, has finally been extradited to India from the United States. Rana, a Pakistani-Canadian national and a former doctor in the Pakistan Army, arrived in Delhi under tight security on Wednesday evening.
The aircraft carrying Rana landed at Indira Gandhi International Airport in the national capital, escorted by a high-level team from the National Investigation Agency (NIA) and other security officials. Rana, long considered a crucial accomplice in the planning and facilitation of the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks, is alleged to have provided vital logistical support to the attackers.
Rana’s name first surfaced in connection with Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) operative David Coleman Headley, also known as Daood Gilani. Headley, who played a reconnaissance role in planning the attacks, was Rana’s associate and used the latter’s immigration business as a front for scouting potential targets in Mumbai.
Arrested in Chicago in October 2009, 11 months after the attacks, Rana remained in US custody for over a decade while India pushed for his extradition under the India-US Extradition Treaty. After prolonged legal resistance, the extradition was finalized following a US court’s decision and subsequent denials of all of Rana’s appeals in the US legal system.
According to the NIA, the District Court for the Central District of California ordered Rana’s extradition on May 16, 2023. Following the order, Rana filed several legal challenges in the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals and even approached the US Supreme Court with multiple petitions, including habeas corpus and emergency applications—all of which were rejected. India, with support from the US Department of Justice (USDoJ), finally secured a surrender warrant, completing the long-awaited extradition.
“The extradition of Tahawwur Hussain Rana marks a significant milestone in our pursuit of justice for the victims of the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks,” the NIA stated. The agency acknowledged the collaborative efforts of various Indian intelligence agencies, the National Security Guard (NSG), and the Ministries of External Affairs and Home Affairs in bringing Rana back to face trial.
Rana is accused of conspiring with Headley and other Pakistan-based operatives belonging to the banned terrorist organisations Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and Harkat-ul-Jihadi Islami (HUJI). These groups were involved in planning and executing the coordinated attacks across Mumbai in November 2008, which resulted in the deaths of 166 people and injuries to over 230 others. Both LeT and HUJI have been designated as terrorist organisations under India’s Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967.
In preparation for Rana’s arrival, the NIA had coordinated with the Delhi Police’s 3rd Battalion, known as the Nayayik Abhiraksha Vahini, responsible for transporting prisoners. Initially scheduled for 7 am, their deployment was delayed due to inclement weather, with the team eventually reaching IGI Airport around 6 pm.
Sources reported that mobile phones of police personnel were collected upon entering the airport premises, underscoring the high level of secrecy and security surrounding the operation. Rana was escorted by a team of three senior NIA officials, including an Inspector General-rank officer, and representatives from various intelligence agencies. The team had flown to the US earlier in the week to formally take custody of him.
Following his arrival in Delhi, Rana was handed over to the Bureau of Immigration for preliminary questioning. He is expected to be produced before the Patiala House Courts, where further judicial proceedings will commence.
As part of the security arrangements, authorities closed Gate No. 2 of the Jawaharlal Nehru Metro Station—located near the NIA headquarters—as a precaution. The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) confirmed that the gate would remain shut until further notice from the police.
Reacting to the extradition, Union Home Minister Amit Shah hailed it as a major diplomatic win for the Modi government. Speaking at the News18 Rising Bharat Summit, Shah stated, “This is a significant success for Prime Minister Modi’s foreign policy. The government remains committed to ensuring that perpetrators of terror against India are brought to justice.”
However, the opposition Congress party contested the government’s claim of credit. Former Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram argued that the extradition was the result of a long, drawn-out legal and diplomatic process that began under the UPA government. “This is not a ‘strong leader’ moment,” Chidambaram said in a statement. “This is the culmination of 15 years of consistent efforts, pushed forward by tireless legal and diplomatic work.”
With Rana now in Indian custody, his trial is expected to shed further light on the planning behind one of the deadliest terrorist attacks in India’s history. The case remains emblematic of international cooperation in the global fight against terrorism.