New Delhi: In a dramatic development, Tahawwur Hussain Rana, a key accused in the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks, has reportedly confessed to his role as a Pakistani Army-linked operative, according to Indian investigative authorities. As per several media reports, Rana admitted during interrogation that he actively supported the Lashkar-e-Taiba terror operation and that his mission in India was coordinated with elements of Pakistan’s intelligence establishment.
Rana revealed that he operated under instructions from Pakistani handlers and shared close ties with David Coleman Headley, the reconnaissance operative who surveyed targets in Mumbai prior to the attack. He further admitted he entered India multiple times under the guise of a business visit, using his immigration firm as a front to facilitate logistics for the 26/11 assault.
This confession directly implicates Pakistan’s military and ISI in the planning of the Mumbai terror attacks an allegation India has long maintained but which Pakistan has persistently denied.
Rana was extradited from the United States in April 2025 after an extensive legal battle. His confession comes while in NIA custody at Tihar Jail, where he is facing charges including criminal conspiracy, terrorism, and abetting mass murder.
The NIA is expected to use Rana’s testimony to pursue further diplomatic and legal action against Pakistan, possibly pushing for UN sanctions or stronger international censure.
Rana’s confession could shift geopolitical narratives. It offers concrete backing to India’s position that Pakistan harbors and facilitates terrorism as an extension of state policy. It is also expected to strain US-Pakistan relations, especially after Washington cooperated with India in facilitating Rana’s extradition.