US President Donald Trump has approved the extradition of a suspect linked to the 2008 Mumbai terrorist attacks, in which over 160 people were killed.
Trump made the announcement on Thursday during a joint press conference with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the White House.
“I am pleased to announce that my administration has approved the extradition of one of the plotters and one of the very evil people of the world, having to do with the horrific 2008 Mumbai terrorist attack, to face justice in India.
“So, he is going to be going back to India to face justice,” Trump stated.
Although Trump did not initially identify the suspect, a subsequent joint statement from both governments identified him as Tahawwur Rana, a Pakistani-origin Chicago businessman and Canadian citizen.
Rana has been accused of providing support to the Pakistan-based Islamist group Lashkar-e-Taiba, which India holds responsible for the attacks. The Pakistani government has denied any involvement in the incident.
The attacks, which began on November 26, 2008, lasted three days and attacked several locations, including luxury hotels, a train station, and a Jewish center, killing 166 people.
During the press conference, Trump was also asked about Sikh separatists living in the United States, whom India regards as security dangers due to their demand for an independent Khalistan state.
Trump did not explicitly answer the question but emphasized that the United States and India are working together on crime-related issues.
India’s alleged targeting of Sikh separatists in the US and Canada has caused tensions in US-India relations.
The situation escalated when Washington charged a former Indian intelligence officer in connection with a foiled assassination plot against a Sikh separatist leader in the US. India has stated that it is investigating the allegations.
The extradition of Rana marks a significant development in counterterrorism cooperation between the US and India.
