The Kandahar Hijacking: A Dark Chapter in India’s History

The Kandahar hijacking, also known as the IC-814 hijacking, is a tragic and significant event in Indian history. It took place on December 24, 1999, when an Indian Airlines flight was hijacked by five militants shortly after it took off from Kathmandu, Nepal, en route to Delhi, India. The aircraft, with 176 passengers and 15 crew members on board, was diverted to multiple locations before finally landing in Kandahar, Afghanistan. The incident lasted for seven days and ended with the release of three high-profile terrorists in exchange for the hostages, marking a dark chapter in India’s fight against terrorism.

The Hijackers

The hijacking was orchestrated by a group of five militants linked to the Pakistan-based terrorist organization Harkat-ul-Mujahideen. The names of the hijackers were:

1. Ibrahim Athar: He was the leader of the group and the elder brother of Maulana Masood Azhar, a notorious terrorist and the founder of Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM).
2. Shakir aka Mohammed: He was one of the key members of the group, responsible for keeping the passengers under control.
3. Sunny Ahmed Qazi: Another member of the group, he played a crucial role in managing the passengers and keeping them intimidated.
4. Shaqir aka Bhola: He was tasked with helping manage the situation on board and assisted in the negotiations.
5. Mistry Zahoor Ibrahim: He was responsible for the logistics of the hijacking and coordinated with external contacts.

These men were well-trained and carried out the operation with precision, making the situation incredibly challenging for Indian authorities.

The Hijacking and Its Aftermath

On the fateful day of December 24, 1999, Indian Airlines Flight IC-814 took off from Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu, Nepal, at 4:00 PM IST. Shortly after takeoff, the plane was hijacked by the five militants. The hijackers armed themselves with knives and grenades, taking control of the cockpit and redirecting the aircraft. Initially, the plane was diverted to Amritsar, India, where the authorities were caught off guard and failed to take decisive action to prevent the plane from taking off again.

After Amritsar, the hijackers directed the plane to Lahore, Pakistan, where it landed briefly to refuel. The Pakistani authorities, wary of being implicated, allowed the plane to refuel but refused to let it stay on their soil for long. The aircraft was then directed to Dubai, where some of the passengers, including the body of one who had been killed by the hijackers, were released. Finally, the hijackers diverted the plane to Kandahar, Afghanistan, which was then under Taliban control.

Negotiations and Hostage Situation

Once the plane landed in Kandahar, the situation became a complex web of negotiations between the Indian government, the hijackers, and the Taliban, who claimed they were not involved in the hijacking but were merely providing a safe landing for the plane. The hijackers made several demands, including the release of 36 militants from Indian prisons, but eventually, they focused on the release of three high-profile terrorists: Maulana Masood Azhar, Ahmed Omar Saeed Sheikh, and Mushtaq Ahmed Zargar.

The negotiations were tense and fraught with difficulties. The Indian government, led by then-Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and his cabinet, was under immense pressure. The decision to negotiate was not taken lightly, but the safety of the passengers became the paramount concern. The hijackers, knowing they had the upper hand, exploited the situation, leading to a protracted negotiation process.

The Release of the Terrorists

On December 31, 1999, after seven days of negotiations, the Indian government agreed to release the three terrorists in exchange for the safe return of the hostages. The exchange took place in Kandahar, with Indian officials flying the three terrorists to the city to complete the deal. The hostages were released, and the hijackers were allowed to leave Kandahar unharmed, disappearing into the chaos of the region.

The released terrorists were:

1. Maulana Masood Azhar: A key figure in the hijacking, Azhar was the founder of Jaish-e-Mohammed, a terrorist organization responsible for several attacks in India, including the 2001 Indian Parliament attack and the 2019 Pulwama attack.
2. Ahmed Omar Saeed Sheikh: A British-Pakistani militant involved in several terrorist activities, including the kidnapping and murder of Wall Street Journal reporter Daniel Pearl in 2002.
3. Mushtaq Ahmed Zargar: Also known as Latram, he was the founder of the Al-Umar Mujahideen, a militant group operating in Jammu and Kashmir.

The release of these terrorists was a significant blow to India, as it not only allowed dangerous individuals to return to their activities but also emboldened terrorist organizations operating in the region.

The Aftermath and Impact

The Kandahar hijacking had far-reaching consequences for India and its approach to dealing with terrorism. The release of the three terrorists was seen as a major victory for terrorist groups and a setback for India. It led to widespread criticism of the government’s handling of the situation, with many arguing that more decisive action could have been taken to prevent the hijacking from escalating.

The incident also exposed the vulnerabilities in India’s security apparatus and highlighted the need for better coordination between various agencies. The lack of preparedness at Amritsar, where the plane could have been immobilized, was particularly criticized.

In the years following the hijacking, India took several steps to improve its counter-terrorism measures. The incident played a significant role in shaping India’s security policies, leading to the establishment of specialized anti-hijacking units and more stringent airport security protocols.

Legacy and Lessons Learned

The Kandahar hijacking remains a painful memory for India, serving as a reminder of the complexities and challenges of dealing with terrorism. The decision to release the terrorists continues to be debated, with opinions divided on whether it was the right course of action.

For the families of the hostages, the ordeal left deep scars, and for the nation, it was a moment of reckoning. The hijacking underscored the global nature of terrorism and the need for international cooperation to combat it.

In the broader context, the incident also highlighted the challenges faced by governments in making decisions that balance the immediate safety of citizens with long-term security concerns. The Kandahar hijacking is a case study in the difficult choices that governments must make in the face of terrorism, and it serves as a stark reminder of the human cost of such decisions.

In conclusion, the Kandahar hijacking was a watershed moment in India’s fight against terrorism. The events of December 1999 continue to resonate in India’s security policies and its approach to dealing with terrorist threats, reminding the nation of the constant vigilance required to protect its citizens.