On November 26, mastermind Tahawwur Rana made shocking disclosures to the Mumbai Crime Branch, asserting that he was a trusted agent of the Pakistan Army and was present in Mumbai during the 2008 attacks.

Rana was extradited from the United States to India on April 10 after the US Supreme Court dismissed his review petition against the extradition on April 4. He is currently undergoing trial in connection with the 26/11 terror attacks, which resulted in the deaths of at least 166 individuals in the horrific violence that unfolded on the streets of Mumbai and at the Hotel Taj.

While in the custody of the National Investigation Agency, Rana’s statements were documented by the Mumbai Police Crime Branch, where he made crucial disclosures, including his role as a trusted agent of the Pakistan Army.

Rana mentioned that he was dispatched to Saudi Arabia during the Gulf War and disclosed that the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) was initially established as an espionage network. He also alleged that his associate, David Headley, had led multiple terrorist training sessions with the banned LeT organization.

Rana stated that he had performed reconnaissance in various locations in Mumbai prior to the 2008 attacks and was in the vicinity when terrorists linked to Lashkar assaulted the Taj Hotel.

Last month, Delhi’s Patiala House Court permitted Rana to communicate with his family members via telephone once. The NIA had authorized one phone call in response to the jail authorities. The court extended Rana’s judicial custody until July 9 after he appeared before it through video conferencing.

The NIA has accused Rana of conspiracy to execute the attack alongside David Headley, a Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) operative who assisted in planning and surveying targets for the Mumbai attacks under the direction of LeT leader Hafiz Saeed.

Rana was allegedly involved in orchestrating the attacks and aided Headley in obtaining a visa by fabricating a false identity to facilitate his travel to India.