NEW DELHI: Fresh details emerging from the United States Department of Justice, coinciding with Tahawwur Rana’s extradition to India, have revealed the extent of his involvement and mindset following the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks. Intercepted conversations between Rana and his co-conspirator, David Headley, allegedly show Rana commending the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terrorists who were killed during the siege and suggesting they be honored with Pakistan’s highest gallantry award, the Nishan-e-Haider.
The US statement, released in connection with Rana’s extradition, disclosed that following the coordinated attacks on multiple locations in Mumbai by 10 LeT operatives, which resulted in the deaths of over 166 people, Rana reportedly told Headley that the Indians “deserved it.”
“In an intercepted conversation with Headley, Rana allegedly commended the nine LeT terrorists who were killed, saying ‘they should be given Nishan-e-Haider’,” the statement revealed. The Nishan-e-Haider is Pakistan’s highest military decoration, typically reserved for soldiers who have displayed extraordinary bravery in combat.
Of the ten terrorists who carried out the horrific attacks, only Ajmal Kasab was captured alive. He was later convicted and hanged in India in 2012.
Rana, a 64-year-old Canadian national of Pakistani origin, who had emigrated to Canada in the 1990s, is currently in the custody of India’s National Investigation Agency (NIA). Investigations have revealed that Rana allegedly provided crucial logistical support to David Headley through his immigration consultancy business based in Chicago.
According to the US Justice Department, “Among other things, Rana allegedly agreed to open a Mumbai branch of his immigration business and appoint Headley as the manager of the office, despite Headley’s having no immigration experience.” This arrangement is believed to have provided Headley with a cover for his reconnaissance activities in Mumbai prior to the attacks.
The NIA has formally charged Tahawwur Rana with serious offences including criminal conspiracy, waging war against India, murder, and violations of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.
The US statement also highlighted the direct links between Headley, who is currently serving a 35-year prison sentence in the US for his role in the Mumbai attacks and a separate plot, and the Lashkar-e-Taiba. It was stated that Headley received training from the terror outfit in Pakistan and maintained “direct communication” with them regarding the plans to attack Mumbai.
Furthermore, the US revealed that Rana allegedly assisted Headley in preparing and submitting visa applications to Indian authorities on two separate occasions, facilitating Headley’s access to India for his surveillance missions. The statement also noted that Headley had met with Rana in Chicago on multiple occasions more than two years before the attacks, during which he described his surveillance activities, LeT’s responses, and potential attack plans.
The connection between Rana and Headley dates back to their time as students at the Cadet College Hasanabdal in Pakistan’s Attock district. Rana subsequently served as a doctor in the Pakistani army before moving to Canada in 1997, where he later obtained citizenship in 2001. He then established an immigration agency in Chicago, which ultimately served as a front for plotting terrorist activities.
David Headley, whose real name is Daood Gilani, moved to the US and had several brushes with the law, including a drug smuggling conviction in 1998. He also reportedly worked as an informant for the US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), leading to speculation about whether he acted as a double agent for the US and Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), a theory supported by former Indian Union Home Secretary GK Pillai. Headley also underwent specialized terrorist training with LeT.
Despite India’s repeated requests for his extradition, the US has consistently declined to hand over Headley, who conducted multiple reconnaissance trips to Mumbai to survey the target locations before his arrest in the US in 2009. The latest revelations from the US Department of Justice underscore the deep involvement of Tahawwur Rana in the planning and the disturbing mindset of those behind the deadly Mumbai attacks. His extradition to India marks a significant step in the ongoing pursuit of justice for the victims and their families.
