On December 24, 1999, Indian Airlines Flight, an Airbus A300, was hijacked en route from Kathmandu to Delhi. The aircraft was carrying a total of 190 occupants, including 179 passengers (five of whom were hijackers) and 11 crew members. The hijacking was carried out by five members of Harkat-ul-Mujahideen, a terrorist organization. The flight originated from Tribhuvan International Airport and was scheduled to land at Indira Gandhi International Airport. However, the hijackers diverted the aircraft to a series of locations, including Amritsar, Lahore, and Dubai. While in Dubai, the hijackers released 27 passengers, including a critically injured male hostage who had been repeatedly stabbed by the hijackers. Subsequent to the hijacking, the aircraft was diverted to Kandahar Airport in Afghanistan, which was under the control of the Taliban. This entire incident transpired within a single week, commencing on December 24, 1999, and concluding on December 31, 1999. During the ensuing negotiations, the hijackers presented their demands to the Indian government. They sought the release of 36 incarcerated Islamic militants in India, including the notorious Pakistani terrorist Maulana Masood Azhar, who later established the extremist organization Jaish-e-Mohammed. Additionally, they demanded a ransom payment of $200 million and the withdrawal of Indian security forces from Kashmir.
From December 25 to 27: the Indian government engaged in negotiations with the hijackers, but the situation remained tense. The Taliban, who held control over Afghanistan at the time, assumed a neutral stance as mediators, emphasizing that they would not permit Indian military intervention on Afghan territory.
December 28-29: Faced with mounting pressure, the Indian government carefully considered its available options. Following extensive and challenging negotiations, the decision was made to release three incarcerated individuals: Maulana Masood Azhar, Mushtaq Ahmed Zargar, and Ahmed Omar Saeed Sheikh. This exchange transpired under intense international observation at Kandahar Airport.
December 31: The passengers and crew were finally released, signaling the conclusion of the challenging situation. However, the incident has left India and its citizens in a state of shock and uncertainty. Which results in formation of India’s Counter Terrorism Strategy :
The occurrence brought to light significant deficiencies in India’s security mechanisms, particularly in managing aviation-related emergencies. The lack of decisive action during the Amritsar landing was met with widespread criticism. Consequently, India’s counterterrorism strategy underwent reforms, including the establishment of the National Security Guard (NSG) and the enhancement of airport security measures nationwide.
In accordance with the Indian Ministry of External Affairs, the five perpetrators were later identified as Pakistani nationals Ibrahim Athar (from Bahawalpur), Shahid Akhtar Sayeed, Sunny Ahmed Qazi, Zahoor Mistry (all three from Karachi), and Shakir (from Sukkur). The hijackers used the code names Chief, Doctor, Burger, Bhola, and Shankar respectively to refer to themselves. This has recently become a subject of controversy following the release of the Netflix show “IC-814” on an OTT platform. The show has received criticism for misrepresenting certain facts and using the synonyms of the Hindu god Shiva, which has led to backlash.
The hijacking also highlighted the Taliban’s involvement in providing refuge and support to terrorist organizations, which ultimately led to their collaboration with al-Qaeda. The Taliban’s ambiguous position and Pakistan’s suspected involvement in the crisis have put a strain on India’s diplomatic ties with both Afghanistan and Pakistan. The incident in Kandahar solidified Afghanistan’s status as a sanctuary for extremist activities, culminating in the tragic events of September 11, 2001, in the United States.
CONCLUSION
The Kandahar hijacking of 1999 was a pivotal event in India’s counterterrorism efforts, exposing vulnerabilities in aviation security, crisis management, and international diplomacy. While the immediate objective of securing the release of 176 hostages was achieved, the long-term implications of releasing three prominent terrorists, particularly Maulana Masood Azhar, had a profound and enduring impact on regional security. This incident underscored the complexities inherent in counterterrorism endeavors, the challenging decisions faced by governments, and the far-reaching consequences of such decisions on future security challenges. Ultimately, the hijacking served as a catalyst for India, prompting substantial reforms in aviation safety, intelligence gathering, and crisis response strategies. However, it also highlighted the persistent challenges in addressing terrorism and the geopolitical complexities of South Asia.