Pakistan rejects US-India statement on Mumbai attacks as 'one-sided'

Pakistan dismissed on Friday a joint statement by India and the United States regarding the 2008 Mumbai attacks as “one-sided, misleading, and contrary to diplomatic norms.”

Islamabad’s sharp response comes after U.S. President Donald Trump approved the extradition of a suspect linked to the 2008 attacks, which killed more than 160 people in Mumbai.

“[We are] surprised that it was included without taking into account Pakistan’s sacrifices. Such references cannot overshadow India’s own sponsorship of terrorism,” Pakistan's Foreign Ministry spokesperson Shafqat Ali Khan said during a weekly briefing.

Trump earlier told reporters at the White House, during a press conference with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, that he was "pleased to announce that my administration has approved the extradition of one of the plotters—one of the very evil people of the world—who was involved in the horrific 2008 Mumbai terrorist attack. He will be going back to India to face justice.”

A joint statement released by the U.S. and India during the visit stated: "The leaders reaffirmed that the global scourge of terrorism must be fought and terrorist safe havens eliminated from every corner of the world. They committed to strengthen cooperation against terrorist threats from groups, including Al-Qa’ida, ISIS, Jaish-e Mohammad, and Lashkar-e-Tayyiba in order to prevent heinous acts like the attacks in Mumbai on 26/11 and the Abbey Gate bombing in Afghanistan on August 26, 2021.

"Recognizing a shared desire to bring to justice those who would harm our citizens, the U.S. announced that the extradition to India of Tahawwur Rana has been approved. The leaders further called on Pakistan to expeditiously bring to justice the perpetrators of the 26/11 Mumbai, and Pathankot attacks and ensure that its territory is not used to carry out cross-border terrorist attacks."

The three-day attacks, which targeted hotels, a train station, and a Jewish center, began on Nov. 26, 2008. India has long accused the Pakistan-based militant group Lashkar-e-Taiba of orchestrating the attacks, although Pakistan denies any state involvement.

While Trump did not name the suspect during the press conference, a later joint statement identified him as Pakistani-origin Chicago businessman and Canadian citizen Tahawwur Rana.

Last month, the U.S. Supreme Court rejected Rana’s petition for review, clearing the way for his extradition. He was previously sentenced to a U.S. federal prison for providing support to Lashkar-e-Taiba.