Pakistan Disowns Tahawwur Rana As 26/11 Co-Accused Set To Face Trial In India: 'He's Canadian'

Following the US Supreme Court's decision to allow the extradition of Tahawwur Rana to India, Pakistan has attempted to disassociate itself from the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks co-conspirator, claiming that Rana is no longer a Pakistani citizen.

Rana, a Canadian national of Pakistani origin, is due to stand trial in India for his alleged involvement in the horrific 2008 attacks that claimed over 160 lives.

Photo Credit: PTI

"Tahawwur Rana has not renewed his Pakistani documents for more than 20 years. His Canadian nationality is well established," foreign ministry spokesperson Shafqat Ali Khan told ANI news agency.

It is worth noting that Pakistan permits dual citizenship for those who relocate to Canada.

The US Secretary of State authorised Rana's extradition by signing the surrender warrant on 11 February. Although his legal team filed an emergency motion to halt the move, the US Supreme Court rejected his petition on 7 April.

According to India's National Investigation Agency (NIA), Rana facilitated the procurement of passports for fellow jihadist and Pakistani-American David Coleman Headley (also known as Daood Gilani), enabling him to travel to India to identify potential targets for the attack.

The plot was orchestrated by the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) group in coordination with Pakistan's intelligence agency, the ISI.

Rana reportedly praised the 26 November 2008 attacks and said the attackers should be posthumously awarded Pakistan's highest military honours.

To date, Ajmal Kasab-an LeT operative captured alive during the attacks-remains the only one to have been prosecuted.

Rana is currently being transferred from the US to Delhi, where he is expected to be held in Tihar Jail upon arrival.

The 64-year-old, born in Pakistan, is known to have close ties with David Headley, one of the masterminds behind the 2008 Mumbai attacks. His extradition follows the US Supreme Court's dismissal of his final appeal against the transfer.