After 26/11 attack, Tahawwur Rana allegedly said "Indians deserved it" and attackers deserved "Pakistan’s highest honour", US reveals

Tahawwur Hussain Rana, a 64-year-old Canadian citizen of Pakistani origin, has been extradited to India from the United States. He is accused of helping plan the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks that killed 166 people and injured over 238 others.

Rana, who once served in the Pakistan Army’s medical corps and later became an immigration consultant, allegedly helped his friend David Coleman Headley with the logistics for the attack. Headley had already admitted to working with the Pakistan-based terror group Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT).

According to a statement from the US Department of Justice, Rana allegedly praised the attack and the terrorists involved. He reportedly told Headley that the Indians “deserved it” and suggested the nine terrorists who died during the attack should receive Pakistan’s highest military award, the Nishan-e-Haider. These comments were recorded during monitored phone calls.



Rana had been in US custody since 2020 and had fought against extradition through American courts, including the Supreme Court. After losing all appeals, he was sent to India on a special flight, escorted by officials from India’s National Investigation Agency (NIA) and the US Marshals Service. He landed in Delhi on Thursday evening and was formally arrested. A special NIA court gave the agency 18 days to question him.

Indian investigators believe Rana worked with both LeT and another banned group, Harkat-ul-Jihadi Islami (HUJI), to plan the attack. Both groups are listed as terrorist organisations under Indian law.

The extradition is being seen as a major diplomatic win for India. Home Minister Amit Shah called it a “big step” towards justice. Former Israeli ambassador to India, Mark Sofer, also praised the Indian government’s efforts.

Rana’s questioning is expected to reveal more about the planning of the 2008 attacks and may help uncover more people involved. The NIA has said it will now try to gather deeper insights into the entire conspiracy.

Inputs from TOI