In a significant development in the 2008 Mumbai terror attack investigation, Tahawwur Rana, a key accused and associate of David Coleman Headley, has confessed to his critical role in orchestrating the attacks, according to highly placed sources in the National Investigation Agency (NIA). This revelation follows his extradition from the United States to India on April 10, 2025, and is seen as a major breakthrough in unravelling the full extent of the global terror network involved in the horrific three-day siege.

Rana’s interrogation by the NIA, which began on April 11, has exposed the deep-rooted connections between state-sponsored elements from Pakistan and international terror organisations. According to sources, Rana has provided detailed accounts of his coordination with Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), confirming a long-suspected collusion between state actors and jihadi operatives.

ISI’s Involvement and the “Sura of Zaki”

One of the most chilling aspects of Rana’s confession is his confirmation that the 26/11 Mumbai attacks were planned under the direct supervision of the ISI. A meeting codenamed the “Sura of Zaki”, named after LeT commander Zaki-ur-Rehman Lakhvi, involved senior ISI officials and LeT leadership in laying the groundwork for the attacks.

This marks official acknowledgment from an insider of the involvement of Pakistan’s spy agency in what is widely considered one of the worst terror attacks in Indian history. Rana further detailed how the ISI provided strategic and logistical support, effectively elevating the 26/11 attacks from a non-state actor operation to a state-sponsored terror act.

Propaganda and Recruitment Through Jamaat-ud-Dawa

Rana’s operations extended beyond terror logistics. He has admitted to being a preacher of extremist ideologies in Canada, operating under the banner of Markaz-ud-Dawat-wal-Irshad (MDI) — the parent organisation of Jamaat-ud-Dawa, LeT’s charitable and ideological front.

Through MDI, Rana allegedly helped fund, recruit, and indoctrinate individuals for LeT. He used religious seminars and charitable events as fronts for radicalisation and mobilising support for jihad. The rebranded Jamaat-ud-Dawa has long been under international scrutiny for its role in facilitating terror activities, and Rana's confession provides a first-hand account of its function as a radical network.

Link to HUJI and the 313 Brigade

In another major revelation, Rana has admitted to his affiliation with the Harkat-ul-Jihadi Islami (HUJI), specifically the 313 Brigade led by Ilyas Kashmiri, a designated global terrorist. He allegedly facilitated terror recruitment and funding operations across Canada and India, in tandem with ISI handlers.

According to investigators, this adds a multi-organisation dimension to the Mumbai attack conspiracy, where LeT, HUJI, and ISI coordinated resources and manpower, indicating a deep and layered terror ecosystem aimed at destabilising India.

Sleeper Cells and Reconnaissance Missions

Rana has confessed that he was instrumental in establishing a “one-to-one sleeper cell” strategy. This system was designed to ensure that operatives functioned in isolation, thereby reducing the risk of infiltration or exposure. Using this method, Rana allegedly managed five active terrorists in India, providing them with financial and logistical support.

His close associate, David Headley, was instructed under direct orders from Major Iqbal and Sajid Mir, to conduct detailed reconnaissance of over 40 targets in India. Among the 12 major sites in Mumbai that were surveyed, Rana cited army cantonments, Chabad House, Siddhivinayak Temple, and the Shiv Sena headquarters.

Rana's detailed admissions provide clarity on how the attackers knew layouts and security patterns, which played a significant role in the success of the attacks.

Digital Evidence and Global Links

Investigators have now recovered key digital evidence, including emails from the address rawsa1@hotmail.com and 13 other email IDs linked to Rana’s international communications. These communications allegedly used coded language, with 26/11 referred to as “MMP project”, which also included plans for attacks in Denmark.

Rana’s network reportedly included operatives in Dubai, where a contact allegedly facilitated a meeting between Rana and Abdur Rehman, another 26/11 conspirator. These leads are being used by NIA to prepare sketches and profiles of elusive figures like Major Iqbal, Major Sameer, Sajid Mir, Abu Anas, and an operative codenamed “D”.

Clarifications and Ongoing Leads

Interestingly, Rana clarified during interrogation that while he was aware of Headley’s romantic involvement with an Indian entrepreneur, the individual had no connection to the terror plot. However, he admitted to encouraging Headley to build connections with influential Indians, which would help gain access for surveillance and intelligence gathering.

The NIA is currently mapping all of Rana’s international transactions and communication trails, aiming to establish the full network of handlers, financiers, and facilitators that made the 26/11 attack possible. Officials believe that Rana's testimony could open the door for renewed global pressure on Pakistan to act against state-sponsored terror operatives still at large.

Background: The 26/11 Mumbai Terror Attacks

The 2008 Mumbai attacks, carried out by 10 Pakistani terrorists, lasted nearly 60 hours and claimed 166 lives. The attackers, who infiltrated Mumbai via the Arabian Sea, targeted key locations including Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus, Taj Mahal Palace Hotel, Oberoi Trident, and Nariman House (Chabad House).

The operation shocked the world not only for its scale and precision, but for the foreign involvement and level of planning. Investigations have long pointed to a broader network behind the attacks, but Rana’s recent confessions provide the first comprehensive insider account that outlines how multiple organisations, countries, and individuals collaborated to carry out the strike.

What Lies Ahead

With the interrogation still ongoing, the NIA is expected to submit a comprehensive dossier, including new digital evidence, sketches of key operatives, and Rana’s full testimony. India may use this evidence to push for international sanctions against individuals and agencies in Pakistan and request extraditions for those identified.

The global implications of Rana’s revelations are vast. It not only reinforces India’s long-standing claims about Pakistan’s role in cross-border terrorism, but also exposes the transnational reach of terror networks, involving Canada, Dubai, and parts of Europe.

This case could be a turning point in India’s diplomatic efforts to isolate state sponsors of terrorism and seek justice for the 166 innocent lives lost in the 26/11 attacks.

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