WASHINGTON, Feb 14: Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Donald Trump have urged Pakistan to swiftly prosecute those responsible for the 26/11 Mumbai attacks. This comes as Trump announced the approval of extraditing Tahawwur Rana, a key figure behind the tragic event, to India.
This meeting, held at the White House, marked the first bilateral discussion between Modi and Trump since the latter’s second term began.
During a joint press conference, Trump highlighted that his administration has sanctioned the extradition of one of the world’s “very evil people” back to India. He stated, “He will be returning to India to face justice,” adding that more extraditions could be anticipated as there are numerous requests pending from New Delhi.
In response, Modi expressed gratitude to Trump for this decision, noting, “I appreciate the President’s choice to hand over the individual responsible for the 2008 killings in India. Indian judiciary will take the necessary actions.”
Modi affirmed the strong cooperation between India and the US in combating terrorism, stating both nations are committed to taking collaborative action to “eliminate” cross-border terrorism.
A joint statement from the two leaders emphasized their commitment to enhancing cooperation against terrorist threats posed by organizations such as Al-Qaeda, ISIS, Jaish-e-Mohammad, and Lashkar-e-Taiba, to prevent atrocities similar to the Mumbai attacks.
The statement reiterated the necessity to combat the “global scourge” of terrorism and eliminate safe havens for terrorists worldwide, acknowledging their shared commitment to bringing those who threaten civilian safety to justice.
Additionally, they called upon Pakistan to take immediate action against the perpetrators of the 26/11 Mumbai and Pathankot attacks, ensuring its territory is not used for cross-border terrorist activities.
The tragic events of November 26, 2008, saw ten Pakistani terrorists conduct a coordinated assault on a railway station, two luxury hotels, and a Jewish center, resulting in 166 fatalities during a nearly 60-hour terror spree that threatened to escalate tensions between India and Pakistan.
The leaders also agreed to collaborate on preventing the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and ensuring terrorists and non-state actors do not gain access to such threats, as stated in their official remarks. (PTI)
