India is working on the logistics of Tahawwur Rana's surrender and extradition from the US, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri has said, as President Donald Trump announced that his administration has given the go-ahead to extradite the 26/11 terror attack accused to face justice".
This is an issue on which the US authorities have taken very clear decisions. I think you've seen the President announce it himself from the White House podium" the decision of the US to extradite Rana, Misri said at a press conference in Washington, DC, on Thursday.
During a joint press conference with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the White House, US President Donald Trump announced that his administration has approved the extradition of "very evil" Tahawwur Rana, wanted by Indian law enforcement agencies for his role in the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks, "to face justice in India.
In response to a question by PTI on the timeframe by when Rana will be extradited to India, Misri said: "We are working on the logistics of his surrender and extradition to India. There are a few final steps to be completed. The two sides are in touch on this particular issue."
The India-US joint statement issued during the Prime Minister's visit to the US notes that Modi and Trump reaffirmed that the global scourge of terrorism must be fought and terrorist safe havens eliminated from every corner of the world.
"They committed to strengthen cooperation against terrorist threats from groups, including Al-Qaeda, ISIS, Jaish-e-Mohammad, and Lashkar-e-Tayyiba in order to prevent heinous acts like the attacks in Mumbai on 26/11 and the Abbey Gate bombing in Afghanistan on August 26, 2021," the joint statement said.
"Recognising a shared desire to bring to justice those who would harm our citizens, the US announced that the extradition to India of Tahawwur Rana has been approved," it said.
The leaders further called on Pakistan to expeditiously bring to justice the perpetrators of the 26/11 Mumbai, and Pathankot attacks and ensure that its territory is not used to carry out cross-border terrorist attacks.
"The leaders also pledged to work together to prevent the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and their delivery systems and to deny access to such weapons by terrorists and non-state actors," the joint statement added.
Rana, a Canadian national of Pakistani origin, is currently lodged at a metropolitan detention centre in Los Angeles. He is known to be associated with Pakistani-American terrorist David Coleman Headley, one of the main conspirators of the 26/11 attacks.
Speaking at the joint press meet, Trump said "Today I am pleased to announce that my administration has approved the extradition of one of the plotters and very evil people of the world, and having to do with the horrific Mumbai terrorist attack, to face justice in India. So, he is going back to India to face justice."
The extradition of Rana was cleared by the US Supreme Court in January as it rejected his review petition in the case.
Last month, India said it was working with American authorities to expedite the early extradition of Rana.
"The US Supreme Court on January 21 declined to hear a petition from the accused. We are now working with the US side on procedural issues for early extradition to India of the accused in the Mumbai terror attack," External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal had said.
On November 26, 2008, a group of 10 Pakistani terrorists attacked Mumbai, India's financial capital, and went on a killing spree as they carried out a coordinated attack on a railway station, two luxury hotels and a Jewish centre. As many as 166 people were killed in the nearly 60-hour assault.
In November 2012, Ajmal Amir Kasab, the lone surviving gunman among the Pakistani group, was hanged to death in Yerawada Jail in Pune.
India, US commit to tackling illegal immigration, human trafficking
Following the bilateral meeting between Modi and Trump, Misri highlighted discussions on illegal immigration, strategic cooperation, and economic engagement between India and the United States.
Misri said that both leaders reaffirmed their commitment to streamlining legal mobility avenues for students, professionals, and short-term visitors, while also agreeing to "aggressively" address illegal immigration and human trafficking.
"India invited the US to take advantage of the reforms in the Indian education sector to set up offshore campuses of premier institutions of the US in India. They committed to streamlining avenues for the legal mobility of students and professionals and facilitating short-term tourist and business travel while also committing to aggressively addressing and tackling illegal immigration and human trafficking," Misri said.
"There is a commitment from both sides to take decisive action against elements that threaten public and diplomatic safety and security, as well as the sovereignty and territorial integrity of both nations. There is a commitment to strengthen law enforcement in this regard, especially significant from our perspective given some events that have taken place," he added.
Misri's statements come amid the deportation of over 100 Indian nationals from the US. A US Air Force plane carrying deportees arrived in Punjab's Amritsar on February 5.
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar had said that it is the obligation of all nations to take back their nationals if they are found to be residing there illegally and said that the Indian government is engaging the US government to ensure that the deportees are not mistreated in any manner.
Providing an overview of Modi's visit, Misri noted that the Prime Minister held discussions with notable figures, including newly confirmed US director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, as well as Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy.
The extensive four-hour talks at the White House between Modi and Trump covered strategic and security cooperation, defence, trade, economic engagement, technology, energy security, and regional and global concerns.
"The PM just concluded a very substantive and productive visit to the United States at the invitation of President Donald Trump. This is the Prime Minister's first visit to the United States after the inauguration of President Trump for a second term. This visit is a signal of the priority that both leaders attach to the India-US relationship. The newly confirmed Director of National Intelligence, Tulsi Gabbard, paid a call to the PM. The PM received Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy," Misri said.
"The discussions at the White House went on for four hours. The discussions covered a lot of ground. The entire gamut of the relationship, ranging from strategic and security cooperation, defence, trade and economic engagement, technology, energy security and people-to-people linkages, regional and global issues of concerns were dealt with," Misri added. -- With ANI inputs
© 2025