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| Credit : DNA |
The Kandahar hijacking of IC 814 remains one of the most harrowing episodes in the history of global aviation. This fateful event, which began on 24th December 1999, saw an Indian Airlines flight en route from Kathmandu to New Delhi being hijacked by five armed terrorists. The IC 814 hijacking was a stark reminder of the vulnerabilities in international air travel at the time, and the incident continues to evoke deep emotions among those who remember it.
The Start of the Kandahar Hijacking IC 814
The IC 814 flight took off from Tribhuvan International Airport, Kathmandu, on 24th December 1999. It was a routine flight, carrying 176 passengers and 15 crew members. However, the tranquillity of the journey was shattered when, about 40 minutes after take-off, five men armed with knives and pistols took control of the aircraft. The Kandahar hijacking IC 814 had begun, and over the next seven days, the world would witness a tense international standoff that would test the resolve of nations.
The terrorists forced the pilot to divert the flight, with the plane making unscheduled stops in Amritsar, Lahore, and Dubai before landing in Kandahar, Afghanistan. By then, the gravity of the situation was clear – this was no ordinary hijacking. The IC 814 hijacking was the result of meticulous planning by terrorists linked to the militant group Harkat-ul-Mujahideen. Their demands would soon place the Indian government in an unenviable position.
The Ordeal of Passengers and Crew
For the passengers and crew on board IC 814, the hijacking was a terrifying ordeal. The hijackers, who were determined and heavily armed, immediately took control of the cockpit and the rest of the plane, leaving those on board helpless. The Kandahar hijacking IC 814 was not just a political manoeuvre but a deeply personal tragedy for the hostages, who had no way of knowing how the situation would end.
Among the passengers was Rupin Katyal, who was returning from his honeymoon. Sadly, he became the only casualty during the hijacking, stabbed to death by the terrorists. His death sent shockwaves through India, further intensifying the emotional and political weight of the situation. The rest of the passengers remained confined in the plane for days, enduring fear, uncertainty, and threats from their captors as negotiations dragged on.
The International Negotiations
As news of the Kandahar hijacking IC 814 spread, the Indian government faced immense pressure to resolve the situation swiftly. Initially, there were attempts to negotiate with the hijackers through international intermediaries. The plane had already made brief stops in Lahore and Dubai, where some hostages were released, but most of the passengers remained on board when the plane finally landed in Kandahar, Afghanistan.
At the time, the Taliban controlled Kandahar. While officially denying any involvement with the hijackers, the Taliban played a pivotal role as mediators during the negotiations. The hijackers presented a list of demands, the most significant of which was the release of three terrorists from Indian prisons, including Maulana Masood Azhar, Omar Sheikh, and Mushtaq Ahmed Zargar. The Kandahar hijacking IC 814 had evolved into a political and diplomatic nightmare, as India was left with an agonising decision.
The Decision to Surrender
The Indian government, led by Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, found itself in a moral and political dilemma. The stakes were high. On one hand, the safety of the hostages on board IC 814 was paramount; on the other hand, releasing terrorists could embolden future hijackers and pose a long-term threat to national security. As the Kandahar hijacking IC 814 entered its sixth day, the families of the hostages and the Indian public were growing increasingly desperate.
Ultimately, under intense pressure and with few viable alternatives, the Indian government made the difficult decision to meet the hijackers' demands. On 31st December 1999, the three terrorists were released in exchange for the hostages. This moment marked the conclusion of the Kandahar hijacking IC 814, but it left a lasting impact on India's counter-terrorism policies and its approach to dealing with future hostage situations.
The Release and Aftermath
The hostages were finally released on 31st December 1999, after a week of captivity. The IC 814 flight, now free of its passengers, was allowed to return to India. The Kandahar hijacking IC 814 ended without further loss of life, but the psychological scars endured by the hostages and their families remain to this day.
In the aftermath of the hijacking, India was forced to confront hard truths about its security apparatus. The fact that the hijackers had managed to board the flight with weapons, and the delays in securing the plane at Amritsar Airport, highlighted serious flaws in the system. The Kandahar hijacking IC 814 led to a comprehensive review of India's aviation security and counter-terrorism protocols.
The release of the three terrorists was not without consequences. Maulana Masood Azhar, one of the men freed in exchange for the hostages, would go on to form Jaish-e-Mohammed, a militant group responsible for several high-profile terror attacks in India, including the 2001 attack on the Indian Parliament. The IC 814 hijacking, therefore, had far-reaching implications, both in terms of national security and geopolitical relations in the region.
The Legacy of the Kandahar Hijacking IC 814
The Kandahar hijacking IC 814 remains etched in the collective memory of those who lived through it. For the passengers and crew, the ordeal left them with a lifetime of trauma and memories of a terrifying week spent under the control of ruthless terrorists. For the Indian government, the incident was a harsh lesson in the complexities of negotiating with terrorists, and the delicate balance between saving lives in the short term and protecting national security in the long term.
The hijacking also had a significant impact on India's relationships with its neighbours. Pakistan's involvement in harbouring and supporting terrorist groups, including the hijackers, strained diplomatic relations even further. The role of the Taliban as intermediaries during the Kandahar hijacking IC 814 added to the global narrative around Afghanistan's involvement in terrorism, setting the stage for future international actions against the Taliban regime.
Conclusion
The Kandahar hijacking IC 814 stands as a grim reminder of the vulnerabilities in the world of international aviation at the time. The seven-day ordeal that played out in December 1999 tested the resilience of governments, passengers, and families, and left a lasting impact on India's security policies. While the hostages were ultimately released, the consequences of the IC 814 hijacking have reverberated for decades, influencing the global fight against terrorism and shaping India's approach to future crises.
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