Tahawwur Rana’s extradition proof of Modi govt's diplomatic strength: Amit Shah

Speaking at the CNN-News18 Rising Bharat Summit 2025 in conversation with Network18 Group Editor-in-Chief Rahul Joshi on Wednesday, Shah said the government was committed to ensuring that those who “have misused India’s land, disrespected its honour and even mistreated Indian citizens” are brought back and tried under Indian law.

“Tahawwur Rana’s extradition is a big diplomatic success of the Modi government,” Shah said.

“The ones, during whose regime the attacks happened, could not bring the perpetrators back to the country and bring them to justice, but we remain committed to do so,” he added, making a veiled reference to the Congress, which was in power both at the Centre and in Maharashtra when the 2008 attacks took place.

A multi-agency team from India travelled to the United States to bring Rana back.

A surrender warrant was executed and Rana was brought to India on Thursday.

The Indian government had been pursuing Rana’s extradition for 17 years for his role in the 2008 Mumbai attacks that resulted in the deaths of 166 people, including security personnel and foreign nationals.

The businessman, holding both Pakistani and Canadian citizenship, is one of the key accused in the brutal attack.

He assisted David Coleman Headley, another co-conspirator, by conducting reconnaissance and providing logistical support for the coordinated assault on Mumbai carried out by Lashkar-e-Taiba.

Investigators allege that Rana used his immigration services firm as a front to help Headley pose as an American citizen while collecting intelligence in India.

Following prolonged legal proceedings, courts in the United States authorised his extradition based on his involvement in the conspiracy.

At the summit, Shah reaffirmed the government’s resolve to pursue all aaccused involved in attacks against India.

He was responding to a question regarding David Headley, a Pakistani-American national currently serving a 35-year prison sentence in the United States.

The 26/11 attacks, among the most devastating terrorist incidents in India, killed 166 people and injured hundreds.

Over the course of nearly 60 hours starting November 26, 2008, ten operatives from Lashkar-e-Taiba struck multiple locations in Mumbai, including the Taj Mahal Palace Hotel, Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus, and the Jewish Chabad House. Planned in Pakistan, the attacks drew international condemnation.

Ajmal Kasab, the sole attacker captured alive, was later tried and executed, while several other accused have yet to face justice.