Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Donald Trump have called on Pakistan to immediately prosecute the perpetrators of the 26/11 Mumbai attacks.
The call for accountability was made while Trump announced approval for Tahawwur Rana's extradition to India, a prime conspirator in the ghastly attack.
During their initial White House bilateral summit following Trump's second-term victory, the American president addressed journalists with Modi and accepted his government's decision.
"We are sending him back to India to face justice," Trump declared, identifying Rana as one of the "very bad people" of the world.
He even suggested more extraditions could be on the cards, recognizing several requests from New Delhi.
Modi welcomed the move and thanked the President for it, saying, "I welcome President Trump's decision to transfer the culprit behind the 2008 massacre in India. Our legal system will now initiate the required proceedings."
Indian Prime Minister reiterated again the close tie of India and America in the war against terror. He asserted again the necessity for collective action to root out the menace of cross-border terrorism.
A joint statement released after the summit identified the resolve of the leaders in deepening counterterrorism coordination. It specifically cited terror outfits such as Al-Qaeda, ISIS, Jaish-e-Mohammad, and Lashkar-e-Tayyiba, noting the necessity to prevent 26/11-style attacks in Mumbai and the 2021 Abbey Gate attack in Afghanistan.
The statement also reaffirmed the shared objective of eliminating terrorist havens around the world. In addition, it urged Pakistan to immediately act against those behind the Mumbai and Pathankot attacks and to prevent its territory from being used for cross-border terrorism.
The 26/11 Mumbai attacks on 26 November 2008 saw ten Pakistani terrorists cross into Mumbai through the Arabian Sea. They simultaneously attacked major points, including a railway station, two high-end hotels, and a Jewish community center.
The senseless attack went on for almost 60 hours and took the lives of 166 people and brought India and Pakistan perilously close to war.
In addition, the two heads of state reaffirmed their determination to prevent proliferation and ensure weapons of mass destruction are not reached by terrorists or non-state groups, highlighting that their common pledge was to ensuring security worldwide.
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