US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Friday praised the extradition of Tahawwur Hussain Rana, a key accused in the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks, to India. Rubio stated that both Washington and New Delhi have long worked toward justice for the victims of the 26/11 tragedy.

“We extradited Tahawwur Hussain Rana to India to face charges for his role in planning the horrific 2008 Mumbai terrorist attacks. Together, with India, we’ve long sought justice for the 166 people, including six Americans, who lost their lives in these attacks. I’m glad that day has come,” Rubio said in a post on X.

Rana, a 64-year-old Pakistan-born Canadian national, had been held in US custody as part of extradition proceedings initiated under the India-US Extradition Treaty. His extradition was finalized after he exhausted all legal channels to block the move.

The process saw close coordination between Indian intelligence agencies and US authorities, marking the culmination of years of efforts to bring one of the key conspirators behind the Mumbai attacks to justice.

Rubio’s statement followed his recent conversation with External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar on April 7, during which both sides reaffirmed the strength of the India-US strategic partnership and discussed expanding cooperation in the Indo-Pacific.

“Good to speak with Secretary Rubio today,” Jaishankar posted after their call. “Exchanged perspectives on the Indo-Pacific, the Indian Sub-continent, Europe, Middle East/West Asia and the Caribbean. Agreed on the importance of the early conclusion of the Bilateral Trade Agreement.”

Following Rana’s arrival in India, US State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce also confirmed the extradition, reaffirming US support for India’s efforts to bring all responsible for the attacks to justice.

The US Department of Justice stated that Rana – a convicted terrorist and Canadian citizen – faces multiple charges in India, including conspiracy, murder, terrorism, and forgery related to the 2008 Mumbai attacks executed by Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), a designated terrorist organization.

The department described the 26/11 attacks as “among the most horrific and catastrophic in India’s history.”