Tahawwur Rana faces imminent extradition to India. This is due to his involvement in the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks. Former Union Home Secretary G.K. Pillai has claimed that the United States deliberately protected the main perpetrator, David Coleman Headley. They did this despite being aware of his links to the deadly conspiracy.
U.S. Acted in “Bad Faith,” Claims Pillai
In an interview, Pillai stated that although Rana facilitated Headley’s activities in India, his involvement was minimal. In comparison, Headley orchestrated the attack under the guise of conducting business. Pillai accused the U.S. of acting in “bad faith.” They allowed Headley to carry out reconnaissance missions in India. He was closely linked to Pakistan’s intelligence agency ISI. This happened even after the attacks.
After Headley was arrested in 2009, American authorities offered him a plea deal that ultimately blocked his extradition to India. Pillai alleged that the U.S. concealed Headley’s Pakistani identity and overlooked his repeated visits to both India and Pakistan using his American passport.
“Even after the 26/11 attacks, Headley returned to Mumbai. Pillai remarked, “If we had known his real identity, we could have tracked him. We could have detained him earlier.” This highlighted the intelligence gap caused by the misinformation.
Rana Offered Logistical Support
Speaking on the relevance of Rana’s extradition, Pillai clarified that Rana’s role primarily involved logistical assistance. “He set up a front office in Mumbai, which gave Headley a legal cover. This helped Headley conduct detailed reconnaissance of key targets,” Pillai explained. These visits enabled Headley to identify landing points for the attackers and relay crucial intelligence to the ISI.
Surveillance Gaps and Changes Post-Attack
Pillai revealed that prior to 26/11, Indian intelligence did not flag Headley as a threat due to his American identity. “He looked the part of a Western tourist. Because his passport only mentioned his mother’s name, his Pakistani origins were obscured. This worked in his favor,” he said.
After the attacks, India revised its surveillance systems. The goal was to better track individuals. These individuals visit both India and Pakistan frequently on foreign passports.
Legal Process and Extradition Journey
The former Home Secretary recalled that both Headley and Rana were arrested in the U.S. in late 2009 during his tenure, but the legal complexities surrounding extradition delayed Rana’s return to India. The National Investigation Agency (NIA) is expected to file a detailed chargesheet based on extensive evidence gathered since.
Rana, a Pakistani-born Canadian national, had contested his extradition multiple times, with the U.S. Supreme Court rejecting his final appeal earlier this week. His extradition is being carried out under the bilateral Extradition Treaty signed by India and the U.S.
26/11: A Grim Chapter in India’s History
The 2008 Mumbai attacks were carried out by ten heavily armed terrorists from the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT). The attack left 166 people dead. It also injured hundreds. The attacks were coordinated across multiple locations including hotels, a railway station, and a Jewish community center. One of the attackers, Ajmal Kasab, was captured alive and later executed in 2012.
