Pakistan distances itself from 26/11 terror accused Tahawwur Rana, says he is 'Canadian national'

Rana, a key conspirator in the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks, has been extradited from the United States and arrived in Delhi on Thursday afternoon, media reports said.

He is now in the custody of the National Investigation Agency (NIA) and is expected to stand trial at a special NIA court in the capital.

Media reports quoting Pakistan Foreign Affairs spokesperson Shafqat Ali Khan stated that Rana did not attempt to renew lapsed citizenship after moving to Canada.

As Pakistan does not allow dual citizenship for migrants to Canada, it is now "very clear" he is a Canadian national.

"Tahawwur Rana has not renewed his Pakistani documents for over two decades. His Canadian nationality is very clear," Khan said in Islamabad.

This comes as a special flight carrying Rana landed at Delhi’s Palam technical area around 2:50 pm, reported India Today.

Shortly after his arrival, NIA officials placed him under arrest.

Sources said he will be produced before a designated NIA court in Delhi, possibly at Patiala House.

Rana, a known associate of Pakistani-American terrorist David Coleman Headley, is accused of facilitating the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks that left 166 dead.

Headley, who turned approver, testified in a US court that Rana helped him conduct reconnaissance of key targets in Mumbai between 2007 and 2008.

Though Rana was acquitted in the US in 2011 of direct involvement in the 26/11 attacks, he was convicted of providing material support to Lashkar-e-Taiba and aiding a terror plot in Denmark.