New Delhi [India], April 10 : Former Israeli Ambassador to India Daniel Carmon has welcomed the extradition of Tahawwur Rana, accused in the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks, calling it "a great development" in the long fight against terrorism.
"It is a great development for all those who feel like terrorists should be fought up to the last point... Knowing how terrible the terror attack was for India and the people of Mumbai, I think it is a great development, on top of a tragedy that we had to face," Carmon said.
Speaking on the Israel-India collaboration in counter-terrorism, he added: "Israel has always been with India in the fight against terrorism, and there is no one conversation or interview where we don't mention that India, like Israel, is suffering with terrorist attacks - unfortunately. Mumbai's 26/11 was definitely a terrible, terrible tragedy."
He continued, "I'm sure India and Israel will continue to cooperate in fighting terrorism. We signed an agreement many years ago, and I'm sure both countries will continue cooperating. Extradition is a huge development, an important diplomatic and judicial victory for India; I can say so without any doubt. I want to congratulate the Prime Minister and all necessary External Affairs Ministers for this."
Earlier today, Eknath Omble, brother of Ashok Chakra awardee and 26/11 hero Tukaram Omble, called it a "big day" and urged that Rana be given the strictest punishment. "Tahawwur Rana was the closest ally of David Headley... they all should have been hanged earlier... I have a request from the government that he (Rana) should be hanged as soon as possible," he said.
Tukaram Omble, a Mumbai Police sub-inspector, was posthumously awarded India's highest peacetime gallantry award for capturing terrorist Ajmal Kasab alive during the 2008 attacks, sacrificing his life in the process.
Rana, a Pakistani-Canadian national, was convicted in the US for aiding Lashkar-e-Taiba. With the US Supreme Court clearing his extradition, the National Investigation Agency will take custody of him upon arrival in India. The Centre has appointed Advocate Narender Mann as Special Public Prosecutor in the case.
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