The United States has approved the extradition of a suspect linked to the 2008 Mumbai terrorist attacks, which left more than 160 people dead.
President Donald Trump made the announcement on Thursday at a joint press conference with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the White House.
“I am pleased to announce that my administration has approved the extradition of one of the plotters and one of the very evil people of the world, having to do with the horrific 2008 Mumbai terrorist attack, to face justice in India.
“So, he is going to be going back to India to face justice,” Trump stated.
Although Trump did not initially name the individual, a joint statement later released by both governments confirmed his identity as Tahawwur Rana, a Canadian citizen of Pakistani origin and Chicago-based businessman.
Rana is accused of supporting the Pakistan-based militant group Lashkar-e-Taiba, which India holds responsible for the attacks.
Pakistan’s government denies involvement in the incident.
The attacks, which started on November 26, 2008, lasted for three days and targeted several locations, including luxury hotels, a train station, and a Jewish center, resulting in 166 fatalities.
During the press conference, Trump was also questioned about Sikh separatists living in the US, whom India considers security threats due to their demand for an independent Khalistan state.
While he did not directly address the issue, Trump emphasized the ongoing cooperation between the US and India on crime-related matters.
Tensions in US-India relations have grown since 2023, with allegations of India’s involvement in targeting Sikh separatists in North America.
The situation intensified after Washington charged a former Indian intelligence officer for his role in a failed plot to assassinate a Sikh separatist leader in the US. India has stated that investigations into the allegations are ongoing.
The extradition of Rana is viewed as a pivotal moment in US-India counterterrorism collaboration, signaling a stronger partnership between the two nations.
