Diljit Dosanjh

The Kandahar hijacking, also known as the Indian Airlines Flight IC 814 hijacking, is one of the most significant and traumatic events in recent Indian history. The incident took place between December 24 and December 31, 1999, and culminated in a tense standoff between the Indian government and the hijackers. This event not only tested the resilience of the Indian government and its diplomatic machinery but also had long-lasting implications for India's counter-terrorism policies and its relations with neighboring countries, especially Pakistan.

Background

Indian Airlines Flight IC 814 was an Airbus A300 en route from Kathmandu, Nepal, to Delhi, India, on December 24, 1999. The flight was carrying 176 passengers, including 15 crew members. The flight took off at 4:15 PM local time from Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu, and everything seemed routine until the plane entered Indian airspace.

At approximately 5:30 PM, as the plane was cruising over Lucknow, a group of five hijackers armed with knives and guns took control of the aircraft. The hijackers were later identified as members of the Harkat-ul-Mujahideen, a Pakistan-based Islamist militant organization. The group’s objective was to secure the release of three key militants imprisoned in India: Maulana Masood Azhar, Ahmed Omar Saeed Sheikh, and Mushtaq Ahmed Zargar.

The Hijacking and Diversion

Once the hijackers seized control, they forced the pilot, Captain Devi Sharan, to divert the flight towards Lahore, Pakistan. However, Pakistani authorities refused to allow the plane to land, forcing the hijackers to change course several times. The aircraft was subsequently diverted to Amritsar, India, where it landed briefly to refuel. The Indian authorities, aware of the situation, attempted to delay the refueling process to buy time for a potential rescue operation. However, due to miscommunication and a lack of coordination among the Indian security agencies, the plane was allowed to take off again before any rescue attempt could be made.

The hijackers then directed the plane to Lahore, where it landed to refuel. Pakistani authorities provided assistance in refueling but did not allow the passengers to disembark. From Lahore, the aircraft was taken to Dubai in the United Arab Emirates. In Dubai, the hijackers released 27 passengers, including women, children, and elderly passengers, as a gesture of goodwill.

Finally, the hijackers directed the plane to Kandahar, Afghanistan, which was under the control of the Taliban at the time. The aircraft landed at Kandahar Airport on December 25, 1999, setting the stage for a week-long standoff between the hijackers and the Indian government.

The Hostage Negotiations

The Indian government faced an unprecedented crisis. The hijackers demanded the release of the three militants in exchange for the safety of the remaining passengers and crew. The Taliban, who controlled Kandahar, offered to mediate but were perceived by India as being sympathetic to the hijackers. This further complicated the situation, as the Taliban's involvement raised concerns about the possible collusion between the hijackers and the Taliban regime.

India quickly dispatched a team of negotiators to Kandahar, including Ajit Doval, a senior intelligence officer, Vivek Katju, a senior diplomat, and others. The Indian government was caught in a dilemma. On one hand, giving in to the demands of the hijackers would set a dangerous precedent and potentially embolden other terrorist groups. On the other hand, the safety of the hostages was paramount.

For seven days, intense negotiations took place. The hijackers remained adamant about their demands, and the situation grew increasingly tense. During this period, one of the passengers, Rupin Katyal, was stabbed to death by the hijackers, further escalating the pressure on the Indian government to resolve the crisis.

The Resolution

Ultimately, the Indian government made the difficult decision to comply with the hijackers' demands. On December 31, 1999, India agreed to release Maulana Masood Azhar, Ahmed Omar Saeed Sheikh, and Mushtaq Ahmed Zargar in exchange for the release of the hostages. The released militants were flown to Kandahar, where they were handed over to the Taliban and the hijackers.

Once the exchange was completed, the hijackers released the hostages and allowed the plane to fly back to India. The hijackers, along with the released militants, were given safe passage out of Afghanistan. The passengers and crew of Flight IC 814 returned to India on January 1, 2000, ending the eight-day ordeal.

Aftermath and Consequences

The Kandahar hijacking had far-reaching implications for India and the region. The release of Maulana Masood Azhar proved to be particularly consequential. Azhar went on to found Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM), a terrorist organization responsible for several high-profile attacks in India, including the 2001 Indian Parliament attack and the 2019 Pulwama attack.

The incident also exposed significant flaws in India's counter-terrorism and crisis management mechanisms. The lack of coordination among various security agencies, the slow response at Amritsar, and the inability to secure a favorable resolution in Kandahar highlighted the need for a more robust and cohesive strategy to deal with such crises. In the years following the hijacking, India overhauled its counter-terrorism policies, strengthening security at airports, improving intelligence-sharing mechanisms, and enhancing the training of its security forces to handle similar situations more effectively.

The Kandahar hijacking also strained India-Pakistan relations. India accused Pakistan of being complicit in the hijacking, given that the hijackers were members of a Pakistan-based militant group and the plane was initially directed to Lahore. Pakistan denied any involvement, but the incident deepened the mistrust between the two countries and contributed to the ongoing hostility in their bilateral relations.

The role of the Taliban in the crisis was also a subject of concern. While the Taliban maintained that they acted as neutral mediators, their perceived sympathy towards the hijackers reinforced India's concerns about the Taliban's ties to terrorist organizations. This perception would later influence India's stance towards the Taliban in the context of the broader geopolitical developments in Afghanistan.

Lessons Learned

The Kandahar hijacking underscored the complexities of dealing with international terrorism and hostage situations. Several lessons were drawn from the incident, shaping India's approach to counter-terrorism in the years that followed.

1. Need for a Swift Response: The delayed response at Amritsar was a critical failure. The lack of timely decision-making and coordination among security agencies allowed the hijackers to maintain control of the situation. This highlighted the importance of having a well-defined, quick-response mechanism in place for dealing with hijackings and similar emergencies.

2. Diplomatic Preparedness: The crisis demonstrated the importance of diplomatic preparedness and international cooperation in resolving such situations. India's negotiators had to engage with multiple actors, including the Taliban, under extremely challenging circumstances. Strengthening diplomatic channels and maintaining open lines of communication with all relevant parties became a priority in India's foreign policy.

3. Strengthening Security Infrastructure: The hijacking exposed vulnerabilities in India's aviation security. In response, India implemented stricter security measures at airports, including enhanced passenger screening, increased surveillance, and better-trained security personnel. The Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) was also given greater authority to oversee aviation security in the country.

4. Intelligence and Counter-Terrorism: The incident emphasized the need for better intelligence gathering and sharing. The fact that the hijackers managed to board the flight with weapons raised concerns about lapses in security. In the years following the hijacking, India significantly improved its intelligence capabilities and established specialized counter-terrorism units to deal with such threats.

5. Handling Public Perception: The Indian government's decision to release the militants was met with mixed reactions domestically. While the public welcomed the safe return of the hostages, there was also criticism of the government for capitulating to the hijackers' demands. Managing public perception and communicating the rationale behind difficult decisions became a crucial aspect of crisis management.

Conclusion

The Kandahar hijacking was a watershed moment in India's fight against terrorism. It exposed critical weaknesses in the country's crisis management and counter-terrorism strategies, leading to significant reforms in the years that followed. The incident also had a profound impact on India's security policies, its relations with neighboring countries, and its approach to dealing with terrorist threats.

While the immediate crisis was resolved with the release of the hostages, the long-term consequences of the Kandahar hijacking continue to resonate. The release of militants like Maulana Masood Azhar had a lasting impact on India's security landscape, contributing to the rise of more organized and deadly terrorist groups in the region.

In retrospect, the Kandahar hijacking serves as a sobering reminder of the challenges posed by international terrorism and the complexities of responding to such crises. It underscores the importance of preparedness, coordination, and resilience in the face of adversity, lessons that remain relevant in today's increasingly interconnected and volatile world.