Tahawwur Rana Confesses to Role in 26/11 Attacks, Highlights Ties with Pakistani Army
In a major advancement in the investigation of the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks, Tahawwur Hussain Rana has reportedly confessed to being in Mumbai during the 2008 attack and acknowledged his significant role in the conspiracy. According to sources, during questioning in NIA custody, Rana informed the Mumbai Crime Branch that he was a trusted operative of the Pakistani Army, and his presence in the city was integral to the terrorists' comprehensive plan.
Currently housed in Delhi’s Tihar Jail, Rana was extradited from the United States to India earlier this year. During interrogation, he disclosed that he and David Coleman Headley, another major conspirator, participated in multiple training sessions with Lashkar-e-Taiba in Pakistan. He described Lashkar-e-Taiba as operating akin to a spy network, as per sources.
Rana reportedly admitted that the concept of establishing an immigration office in Mumbai under his company was his own, with financial transactions disguised as business expenses. He stated that he conducted reconnaissance of potential targets, including Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus, and believed the attacks were executed in collaboration with Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI).
Sources further indicated that Rana claimed he had been previously dispatched by the Pakistani military to Saudi Arabia during the Khaleej War, underscoring the longstanding trust placed in him by the army.
In light of these revelations, Mumbai Police are preparing to take custody of Rana to proceed with his formal arrest. He faces numerous charges, including conspiracy, murder, terrorism, and forgery. His judicial custody was extended last month until July 9.
Rana’s statements could serve as vital evidence in establishing connections between state-sponsored elements from Pakistan and the 26/11 attacks, which resulted in 166 fatalities during a 60-hour assault on prominent Mumbai sites such as the Taj and Oberoi hotels, CST station, and Nariman House.
