In a major development in the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks case, Pakistan-origin Canadian national Tahawwur Rana, who has exhausted all legal avenues in the United States, is expected to be extradited to India very soon, according to official sources. A multi-agency Indian team is currently in the US to complete the necessary legal formalities and bring him back.
The move is being seen as a crucial step forward in unmasking the broader conspiracy behind the 2008 attacks, particularly the involvement of Pakistani state actors and intelligence operatives.
Supreme Court of the United States Rejects Rana’s Final Appeal
Rana’s extradition process gathered momentum after the US Supreme Court denied his final legal petition. Earlier this year, he filed an Emergency Application for Stay Pending Litigation of Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus with Justice Elena Kagan, who rejected it. He then refiled the same plea, which was referred to the full court and was officially denied on April 7, 2025.
The decision has cleared the last legal hurdle, allowing Indian authorities to proceed with his extradition.
Rana’s Ties to 26/11 and Terror Groups
Rana, who was arrested in Chicago in 2009 by the FBI, has long been accused of providing logistical and financial support to Pakistani-American terrorist David Coleman Headley, a key planner of the 26/11 attacks. Headley conducted reconnaissance of the targets and was instrumental in helping Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) select locations for the strikes.
Indian investigators believe that Rana was not only aware of Headley’s terror links but actively assisted him, including supporting the planning of attacks on the National Defence College in Delhi and the Chabad House in Mumbai.
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has filed a chargesheet against Rana, labeling him a co-conspirator who provided material support, funding, and cover for Headley and others involved in orchestrating the Mumbai attacks.
Visits to India Before the Attack
According to intelligence sources, Rana had traveled to several Indian cities — including Hapur and Agra (Uttar Pradesh), Delhi, Kochi (Kerala), Ahmedabad (Gujarat), and Mumbai (Maharashtra) — along with his wife, Samraz Rana Akhtar, between November 13 and 21, 2008, just days before the 26/11 attacks. His movements during this period are under scrutiny and may provide crucial leads once he is in Indian custody.
Authorities are hopeful that questioning Rana will clarify the purpose of these visits and expose further connections within the broader terror network.
Political and Strategic Significance
The extradition holds strategic significance for India, especially in exposing the involvement of senior Pakistani military and intelligence officials in the planning and execution of the attacks. The NIA’s investigation has already pointed to figures such as Hafiz Saeed, Zaki-ur-Rehman Lakhvi, Illyas Kashmiri, and Major Abdur Rehman Hashim Syed as key masterminds behind the assault, supported by ISI officers, including Major Iqbal and Major Sameer Ali.
Rana’s potential testimony could reinforce India’s long-standing claim of state-sponsored terrorism from across the border.
US Support for Extradition
The United States has publicly supported the move. During a joint press conference with Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the White House, US President Donald Trump acknowledged Rana’s involvement and said the US was committed to ensuring that individuals responsible for global terrorism are brought to justice.
“This administration has approved the extradition of some of the most dangerous individuals in the world — including Rana — to face justice in India,” Trump had said.
Legacy of the 26/11 Attacks
The November 26, 2008 attacks left 166 people dead, including citizens from the US, UK, and Israel. Overf nearly 60 hours, 10 heavily armed terrorists from Pakistan unleashed mayhem across Mumbai, attacking high-profile targets such as the Taj Mahal Palace Hotel, the Oberoi Trident, the Leopold Café, Chabad House, and the Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus (CST).
Only one attacker, Ajmal Amir Kasab, was captured alive. He was tried and sentenced to death and was executed in Yerawada Jail, Pune, in November 2012.
What’s Next
Once extradited, Rana is likely to be placed in the custody of the NIA, which is spearheading the 26/11 probe. His interrogation is expected to provide deeper insights into transnational terror links, particularly the operational connections between Lashkar-e-Taiba, Harkat-ul-Jihadi Islami (HUJI), and Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI).
India has also formally requested the extradition of David Headley, but due to his cooperation with US authorities and a plea deal, he is currently serving a 35-year sentence,