In a significant diplomatic achievement for India, the US Supreme Court has cleared the extradition of Tahawwur Rana, a key figure in the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks. The court dismissed Rana’s review petition against extradition orders, paving the way for his transfer to India, where he is wanted for his involvement in the 2008 attacks that claimed 166 lives, including six Americans.
Rana, a Pakistan-origin Canadian businessman, is currently detained at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Los Angeles. His extradition has been a long-standing demand by India, given his alleged role in assisting Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terrorists with reconnaissance efforts ahead of the attacks. Rana’s petition for a “writ of certiorari,” filed on November 13, 2024, was denied by the US Supreme Court on January 21, 2025. This decision marks the conclusion of his legal options in the United States.
Rana’s Legal Battles in the US
Rana, a childhood friend of David Coleman Headley—another key figure in the 26/11 attacks—was re-arrested in Los Angeles on June 10, 2020, following India’s extradition request. He had previously lost legal battles in multiple federal courts, including the US Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. In August 2024, this court ruled in favor of his extradition under the extradition treaty between India and the United States.
US District Court Judge Jacqueline Chooljian had earlier denied Rana’s USD 1.5 million bail application, citing him as a flight risk. Rana’s past conviction in Chicago in 2011, for providing material support to Lashkar-e-Taiba and for involvement in an abandoned plot to attack a Danish newspaper, further strengthened the case against him.
Key Role in the 26/11 Attacks
Indian authorities have described Rana as an operative for Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) with close links to Lashkar-e-Taiba. According to the Mumbai Police’s 405-page chargesheet, Rana played a crucial role in enabling the attacks by supporting the reconnaissance operations carried out by David Headley.
The 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks remain one of the deadliest assaults in Indian history, targeting key locations like the Taj Mahal Palace Hotel, Oberoi Trident Hotel, and Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus. The attacks left a lasting scar on the nation and highlighted the global threat posed by state-sponsored terrorism.
Diplomatic and Strategic Impact
The US Supreme Court’s decision to clear Rana’s extradition is a testament to the growing strategic partnership between India and the United States. It reflects a commitment to counterterrorism cooperation and upholding justice for the victims of one of the worst terror attacks in modern history.
Rana’s extradition will allow Indian authorities to bring him to trial and further investigate the network behind the 26/11 attacks. This development is expected to have significant implications for India’s ongoing efforts to expose Pakistan’s role in state-sponsored terrorism.