Pakistan continues to shield 26/11 Mumbai terror attack perpetrators: MEA on Tahawwur Rana's extradition

NEW DELHI: The ministry of external affiars on Thursday called on Pakistan to take action against the perpetrators of the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks, following the extradition of Tahawwur Hussain Rana, a key accused and close associate of David Coleman Headley.
Ministry of external affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal during his weekly briefing said, “Pakistan may try very hard, but its reputation as the epicentre of global terrorism will not diminish. The extradition of Rana is a reminder yet again to Pakistan that it needs to act to bring to justice other perpetrators of the Mumbai attacks, whom it continues to shield.”
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Rana, a Pakistani-origin Canadian businessman, was brought to India after the US Supreme Court rejected his final plea against extradition on April 4. He is believed to have helped plot the 2008 attacks, which left 166 people dead after a group of ten Pakistani terrorists stormed Mumbai’s landmarks, including CST station, the Taj and Oberoi hotels, and the Chabad House. The attacks, which lasted nearly 60 hours, were planned and executed with support from individuals operating out of Pakistan.
The statement came just days after a Delhi court sent Rana to 18-day custody of the National Investigation Agency (NIA), stating that there was sufficient material on record to justify custodial interrogation.
Special NIA judge Chander Jit Singh observed that the conspiracy involving Rana extended beyond India’s borders and included targets in multiple Indian cities, including the national capital.
“The material produced on record reflect that the conspiracy in question travels beyond the geographical borders of India and multiple targets in the form of various places in multiple cities in India, including the national capital, were sought to be identified,” the judge observed.
He further said Rana needed to be confronted with witnesses and forensic and documentary evidence seized during the investigation. This included material related to reconnaissance visits conducted by the accused and his accomplices.
“This exercise indicates the necessity of custodial interrogation for which time is required,” the court said, adding that a thorough investigation was vital to ensuring national security. The court also noted that the NIA must be given a fair opportunity to uncover the complete picture. “The investigating agency should get a fair chance to thoroughly investigate the matter so as to present before the court complete facts in a holistic manner.”