WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump, while talking to journalists at a joint Presser held here Thursday (13th Feb 2025) with Indian PM Narendra Modi, announced that his administration had approved extradition of Tahawwur Hussain Rana, a Canadian citizen of Pakistani origin who is a suspect in the 2008 Mumbai attack that claimed 164 lives.
It is pertinent to mention here that Chicago-based Tahawwur Hussain Rana was convicted in 2011 and later sentenced to 13 years in prison for providing support to Lashkar-e-Taiba. In 21 Jan 2025 the Supreme Court of USA rejected his review petition against extradition: “He is going to be going back to India to face justice. We’re giving him back to India immediately.”
US State Department stated: “In view of the recent Supreme Court decision, and consistent with applicable US law, the Department of State is currently evaluating next steps in this case. We have long supported India’s efforts to ensure the perpetrators of the Mumbai terrorist attacks face justice.”
Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs maintained: “We consider the Pakistan-specific reference in the ‘India-US Joint Statement of 13 February 2025 as one-sided, misleading and contrary to diplomatic norms.
“We are surprised that the reference has been added to the Joint Statement notwithstanding Pakistan’s counter-terrorism cooperation with the United States. Such references cannot cover up India’s sponsorship of terrorism, subversion and extrajudicial assassinations in the region and beyond, nor can they shift international attention from the stark reality of India being a safe haven for the perpetrators of hate crimes against Muslims and other minorities.
“The ‘Joint Statement’ fails to address non-compliance of India with UNSC resolutions which is the key source of tension and instability in the region and to take cognizance of the grim human rights situation in the Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu & Kashmir (IIOJK). Regrettably, this is tantamount to abdication of international responsibility.
“The international community recognizes Pakistan’s efforts and sacrifices in the fight against terrorism. As a country that has enormously suffered from terrorism, Pakistan would continue to contribute constructively to the regional and global efforts to promote peace and stability in the region.
“It remains committed to bring the fight against terrorism to its logical conclusion by eliminating this scourge from its soil. Pakistan also remains committed to continue with counter terrorism efforts to address the issue of terrorism including acts of terrorism perpetrated by foreign elements.
“Pakistan is also deeply concerned over the planned transfer of advanced military technologies to India. Such steps accentuate military imbalances in the region and undermine strategic stability. They remain unhelpful in achieving the objective of a durable peace in South Asia.
“We urge our international partners to take a holistic and objective view of the issues of peace and security in South Asia and refrain from endorsing positions that are one-sided and divorced from ground realities.”
Newspakistan.tv
