TRUMP-MODI TALKS: US confirms extradition of key figure in 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks to India
STC NEWS MONITORING DESK
FEBRUARY 14 (STC): US President Donald Trump in a meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi has confirmed the extradition of Tahawwur Rana, a terrorist linked to 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks, to India.
The confirmation came during bilateral talks between US President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday which have been reported as “excellent” in the context of taking measures to strengthen ties between the two countries.
The Prime Minister Narendra Modi took to his X handle, calling his White House meeting with the US President Donald Trump “excellent” and a boost to ties.
Remarkably, one of the key takeaways of the meeting has been extradition of Tahawwur Rana, a key figure in the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks, to India. According to various media reports covering the highlights of the Trump-Modi bilateral talks, President Donald Trump confirmed that his administration has approved the extradition of Tahawwur Rana to India.
It’s notable that Rana, a Canadian national of Pakistani origin, is currently in custody at a Los Angeles detention center. He is closely linked to David Coleman Headley, a Pakistani-American terrorist and one of the main conspirators behind the attacks. Reportedly, Trump has referred to Rana as “very evil,” emphasising the importance of bringing him to justice in India.
According to the reports, both leaders discussed eliminating terrorism: PM Modi expressed gratitude towards Trump for approving the extradition of Tahawwur Rana. “India and the US will stand firmly together in the fight against terrorism,” Modi said in his statement. “We agree that eliminating cross-border terrorism requires decisive actions. I am deeply thankful to President Trump that a criminal responsible for the 2008 genocide in India will now be handed over to us,” he added.
Meanwhile, India and the US are set to deepen their strategic partnership across key sectors, with President Donald Trump announcing that Washington is moving forward to provide India with F-35 fighter jets.
This follows extensive discussions with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, where both leaders agreed to enhance cooperation in areas like energy, critical technologies, and connectivity. Trump said that military sales to India would increase by billions of dollars starting this year. He also confirmed that the US is working towards supplying India with advanced F-35 stealth fighters.
(Inputs from agencies)
