NIA probes 26/11 attack plotter Tahawwur Rana's link to Pahalgam terror attack

New Delhi: A combination of factors is being examined on the timing of the attack, including the recent extradition of 26/11 attack plotter Tahawwur Hussain Rana. In this regard, the security at NIA headquarters here has been beefed up. Rana is in the custody of NIA which is questioning him in connection with the 2008 Mumbai attack case. Foreign secretary Vikram Mistri mentioned about Rana's extradition to India at a press briefing on Wednesday.

Rana was associated with LeT and Pakistan army officials. He was the first to have started plotting the Mumbai attack in 2005-06 along with David Coleman Headley, as per investigators. The attack on tourists in Pahalgam seems to have been well planned and coordinated from across the border, added officials.

It may be recalled that Rana was arrested by the US and extradited after a long legal process to India. Rana, according to NIA, set up an immigration business and met with his childhood friend from Pakistan, Headley, a US national, in 2005. The two started conspiring to carry out attacks in India between 2005 and 2008 and assist the banned LeT. Their targets were Indians and tourists in places like Goa and Mumbai where Headley had done recce several times. According to NIA, the Mumbai branch of Rana's business was set up for Headley to visit India and carry out reconnaissance for various high-profile venues, not limited to Mumbai.