Tahawwur Rana Extradition: Pakistan Distances Itself From 26/11 Accused After Arrival in India

Pakistan has distanced itself from the 26/11 Mumbai Terror Attack accused Tahawwur Hussain Rana. Tahawwur Rana is responsible for over 150 deaths in the 2008 Mumbai terror attack. Rana was brought to Delhi from the US on April 10 at 02:30 PM. His case is being transferred to Delhi from Mumbai. The National Investigation Agency has arrested him officially, and he might be lodged in Tihar Jail in New Delhi. Security has been beefed up outside the NIA headquarters. News agency ANI reported that Pakistan Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Shafqat Ali Khan said that after Rana’s Pakistani citizenship lapsed, he did not renew it after moving to Canada.

He said, “Rana did not attempt to renew lapsed citizenship after moving to Canada - i.e., Pakistan does not allow dual citizenship for migrants to Canada - and that it is now 'very clear' he is a Canadian national. Tahawwur Rana has not renewed his Pakistani documents for over two decades. His Canadian nationality is very clear.”

NIA Has Accused Tahawwur Rana Of:

• Helping Headley get an Indian Visa despite his known terror affiliations.
• Allowing Headley to use his business as a cover to form a branch in Mumbai, called Immigrant Law Centre, which helped in locating potential targets.
• Funding and arranging many trips to India for Headley between 2006 and 2008. During these trips, Headley visited key sites that were blown up in blasts and attacked, including the Taj Mahal Palace Hotel, Chabad House, and CST railway station.
• He has visited several Indian cities himself, including Delhi, Agra, Kochi, Ahmedabad, and Mumbai.
• Investigators of this incident say that Rana had full knowledge of Headley's mission and was in contact with him during his stay in India — over 200 phone calls have been cited as evidence.
• Investigators also say Rana was in touch with Major Iqbal, an alleged ISI handler, who was named as one of the masterminds behind the attack.

Also Read: Who Exposed 26/11 Mumbai Terror Attacks Accused Tahawwur Rana?

His name was struck from the US Federal Bureau of Prisons' custody records when he was given over to Indian officials in Los Angeles, and his status was modified to "Not in BOP custody as of April 8, 2025" A dedicated Indian team, comprising members from the National Investigation Agency and US intelligence agencies, coordinated the handover. The surrender warrant was authorised by DIG (NIA) Jaya Roy before the team departed for Delhi on April 9. Rana is expected to be kept under severe security at Tihar Jail. He will be questioned by a multi-agency team made up of investigators from two intelligence agencies, NIA officials, and psychologists with expertise in criminology.