I. Introduction

On the afternoon of December 24, 1999, the festive air of Kathmandu’s Tribhuvan Airport was filled with anticipation. Among the passengers on Indian Airlines Flight IC814, honeymooners, holidaymakers, and families eagerly boarded the aircraft, unaware that their lives were about to change forever. At 4:05 PM, the flight lifted off, bound for New Delhi, on what should have been a routine journey. Just 33 minutes into the flight, a sinister twist emerged—a group of masked men armed with grenades and pistols stormed the cockpit, marking the beginning of one of the most dramatic and prolonged hijacking crises in aviation history.

This was no ordinary hijacking; this was the IC814 incident, a calculated strike against India that reverberated globally, forever changing the nation’s approach to handling terrorism. Hijackings, as a mode of attack, have long captured public fear and fascination. They evoke images of suspense, danger, and the delicate balancing act between life and death. Globally, the 1970s and 1980s saw a rise in such acts of airborne terrorism, from the infamous Entebbe raid to the hijacking of TWA Flight 847. By the late 20th century, hijackings had evolved beyond mere political statements, becoming tools for international terrorism.

In India, the threat of hijacking loomed large in the collective memory. In 1984, Indian Airlines Flight 421 had been hijacked, though with a far less tragic outcome. However, nothing could have prepared the country for the audacity and scale of the IC814 incident. This event would not only expose glaring security gaps but would also force India into a high-stakes diplomatic and military crisis that spanned countries and continents.

Flight IC814 carried 178 passengers and 11 crew members, including Captain Devi Sharan, First Officer Rajinder Kumar, and Flight Engineer Anil Kumar Jaggia. Among the passengers was 25-year-old Rupin Katyal, a young man returning from his honeymoon, whose fate would become emblematic of the horrors of the ordeal. As the aircraft traversed Indian airspace, five hijackers revealed their identities: Ibrahim Athar, Shahid Akhtar Sayed, Sunny Ahmed Qazi, Zahoor Mistry, and Shakir, members of the Pakistani militant group Harkat-ul-Mujahideen. Their goal was not just to instill fear but to secure the release of their leader, Maulana Masood Azhar, imprisoned in India for his role in spreading terrorism.

What followed was an international ordeal involving multiple countries, covert negotiations, and harrowing moments for the passengers aboard. From Amritsar to Lahore, then Dubai to Kandahar, the hijackers forced the plane to hop across nations, using innocent lives as bargaining chips while India scrambled to negotiate a peaceful resolution. The crisis would stretch on for seven agonizing days, ending in a decision that would haunt the country for years: the release of three notorious terrorists, including Azhar, in exchange for the safe return of the hostages.

II. Prelude to the Hijacking

The flight on that fateful day, Indian Airlines IC814, appeared to be an ordinary international trip connecting two bustling capitals of South Asia. Little did anyone know that this seemingly routine journey from Kathmandu to New Delhi would be hijacked, sparking an international crisis that tested the limits of India’s security infrastructure and diplomacy.

Flight Details: A Routine Flight Turns Tragic

Indian Airlines Flight IC814 took off from Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu, Nepal, at 4:05 PM on December 24, 1999. The Airbus A300 was scheduled for a relatively short flight to New Delhi, a routine route for many travelers seeking business, leisure, or religious visits. By all accounts, IC814 was an ordinary flight operating in the heart of the holiday season.

Route:

• Departure: Tribhuvan International Airport, Kathmandu, Nepal
• Destination: Indira Gandhi International Airport, New Delhi, India
• Scheduled Arrival Time: 5:30 PM (IST)

The aircraft was piloted by an experienced crew, with Captain Devi Sharan at the helm, supported by First Officer Rajinder Kumar and Flight Engineer Anil Kumar Jaggia. These three professionals, seasoned in handling all types of flight conditions, were about to face a situation far beyond any standard training.

Crew Details: The Brave Men in the Cockpit

1. Captain Devi Sharan: A veteran pilot, Captain Sharan was known for his calm demeanor and expertise. Throughout the hijacking ordeal, his poise would prove instrumental in keeping the situation from spiraling further into disaster.
2. First Officer Rajinder Kumar: As second-in-command, Rajinder Kumar played a critical role in supporting Captain Sharan during the crisis, particularly in moments of high-stakes negotiation with the hijackers.
3. Flight Engineer Anil Kumar Jaggia: Tasked with managing the technical aspects of the aircraft, Jaggia’s role became crucial when the hijackers demanded rapid movement of the plane across different airports. His ability to communicate with the cockpit and navigate complex systems helped keep the situation manageable.

Passenger Details: A Diverse Group Held Hostage

Indian Airlines Flight IC814 carried 178 passengers, comprising a mix of nationalities and backgrounds. The passenger list included honeymooners, families returning from vacations, business travelers, and even those flying for religious purposes. While most passengers were Indian nationals, there were also foreigners from different parts of the world. The wide range of passengers meant that the emotional stakes were high, both for their loved ones back home and for the Indian government.

Among these passengers was Rupin Katyal, a 25-year-old man returning from his honeymoon with his wife, Rachna. Tragically, Rupin would become a victim of the hijackers' violent impulses, an act that sent shockwaves across the nation.

Planning the Hijack: A Chilling Orchestration

While the passengers boarded with no inkling of the looming danger, the hijackers had meticulously planned every detail of their operation for months. The five hijackers were not ordinary criminals; they were highly trained operatives of Harkat-ul-Mujahideen, a Pakistani terrorist group with a history of spreading terror in the Kashmir region. Their mission was simple but sinister: force the Indian government to release Maulana Masood Azhar, a notorious militant leader, in exchange for the hostages.

The Hijackers:

1. Ibrahim Athar (Chief) – The leader of the group, and a direct relation to Masood Azhar. Athar's involvement cemented the personal nature of the hijacking, underscoring his fierce loyalty to his brother’s cause.
2. Shahid Akhtar Sayed (Doctor) – Known as the "Doctor," Shahid Akhtar was tasked with intimidating and controlling the passengers in the cabin.
3. Sunny Ahmed Qazi (Burger) – A key figure in managing the hijacking logistics, Qazi was responsible for maintaining control over the cockpit.
4. Zahoor Mistry (Bhola) – Another hijacker who played a prominent role in terrorizing the passengers and ensuring the crew complied with their demands.
5. Shakir (Shankar) – The fifth hijacker, primarily involved in controlling the economy class passengers and preventing any attempts to thwart the hijacking.

Each of these men had been meticulously selected for their roles based on their skills and their commitment to Harkat-ul-Mujahideen’s jihadist ideology. Their objective went beyond a mere ransom—they sought to cripple India’s anti-terrorism framework by coercing the release of Masood Azhar.

Affiliation with Harkat-ul-Mujahideen: A Terrorist Cause

The hijackers’ affiliation with Harkat-ul-Mujahideen highlighted the broader geopolitical implications of the incident. Harkat-ul-Mujahideen, backed by the ISI (Inter-Services Intelligence) of Pakistan, was deeply involved in the insurgency in Kashmir. For these men, the hijacking was not just a criminal act; it was a statement of defiance against India’s authority in the region. The release of Masood Azhar, a key figure in the group, would re-energize their cause and potentially lead to a resurgence of militant activities in Kashmir.

Pre-Hijack Preparations: Crafting a Sinister Plot

The hijacking was meticulously planned over several months, with the ISI playing a central role. The selection of Kathmandu as the departure point was no coincidence. Nepal’s capital had long been a hub of illicit activity, and its lax airport security, compounded by the influence of Pakistani intelligence agents, made it an ideal launching pad for the hijackers’ plans.

Several trips were made to Kathmandu by the hijackers in the months leading up to the hijacking. They procured fake passports and booked tickets through multiple travel agencies to cover their tracks. The use of aliases—such as “Red Cap” for Ibrahim Athar and “Burger” for Sunny Ahmed Qazi—allowed them to board the flight without raising suspicion.

Diplomatic Exploitation: A Pakistani Diplomat’s Dark Role

Perhaps the most chilling aspect of the hijacking’s preparation was the role played by a Pakistani diplomat, Mohammad Arshad Cheema, who facilitated the smuggling of weapons onto the plane. On the afternoon of December 24, just hours before the hijacking, Cheema arrived at the Kathmandu airport in a diplomatic car bearing the license plate “42CD14.” With diplomatic immunity shielding him from security checks, he carried a briefcase containing grenades, automatic weapons, and explosives—items that would later be used to take control of the aircraft.

As the hijackers boarded the plane with other unsuspecting passengers, they knew they were fully equipped to carry out their mission. Cheema’s briefcase, handed over to the hijackers just before boarding, gave them the firepower they needed to hijack the plane and hold its passengers hostage.

This meticulous planning, involving multiple operatives across several countries, reflected not only the hijackers' determination but also the extent of international terror networks. The stage was set for an unprecedented crisis that would grip the Indian subcontinent, with the hijackers firmly in control of IC814’s fate.

III. The Hijack on Board IC814

Moment of Hijacking

At approximately 4:38 PM, just 33 minutes after takeoff, what began as a routine flight transformed into a life-threatening ordeal for the passengers and crew aboard IC814. The first hint of the impending horror came when senior cabin crew member Anil Sharma knocked on the cockpit door to deliver refreshments. As the door opened, a masked man wearing a monkey cap suddenly forced his way into the cockpit. In his left hand, he clutched a grenade; in his right, a revolver. Captain Devi Sharan, immediately realizing the gravity of the situation, tried to stay calm, but a sense of dread swept through him as he understood what was unfolding: the plane was being hijacked.

This man, later identified as Ibrahim Athar, was no ordinary criminal. He was the leader of the group, meticulously trained to take control of the aircraft with ruthless efficiency. In a matter of seconds, the peaceful atmosphere in the cockpit shifted to one of terror and uncertainty. As the crew tried to assess the situation, they had no idea that four more hijackers, all armed and dangerous, were already in the cabin, waiting for the signal to begin their operation.

The Assault on the Cockpit

With weapons drawn, Athar made his intentions clear to the cockpit crew: they were no longer in control of the aircraft. In a highly coordinated move, he demanded that the pilot redirect the plane to Lahore, Pakistan. Initially, Captain Sharan attempted to reason with the hijacker, stating that the plane didn’t have enough fuel to make it to Lahore, but Athar was unwavering, threatening to detonate the grenade if the crew did not comply. Simultaneously, his co-conspirators began to assert control over the passengers, turning the once orderly cabin into a chaotic warzone.

Strategies of Control

The hijackers had rehearsed every detail. Using code names to disguise their identities, they addressed each other during the operation: Athar, the leader, was referred to as “Chief,” while the others had names like “Doctor,” “Burger,” “Bhola,” and “Shankar.” Their primary strategy revolved around brute intimidation and quick domination of the cockpit, combined with psychological manipulation of both the passengers and the crew. Each hijacker had a distinct role. While Athar and one other focused on controlling the cockpit and communicating with air traffic control, the others took charge of terrorizing the passengers into submission.

Passenger and Crew Response

In the passenger cabin, the atmosphere of the Christmas Eve flight had been jovial, with people chatting and settling in for the short journey. However, this mood shifted dramatically when the hijackers revealed themselves. Initially, many passengers didn’t grasp the severity of what was happening. Some, like Ramesh Grover in the executive class, mistook the sight of the masked hijackers for some kind of festive prank, believing it might be part of a Christmas celebration. But as the hijackers brandished their weapons, their true intent became terrifyingly clear.

Cabin Crew’s Immediate Response

The cabin crew, trained to maintain composure in emergencies, tried to remain calm as chaos erupted. They quickly realized that resistance would only escalate the situation. Following protocol, they cooperated with the hijackers, assisting in their demands and maintaining order among the passengers. Despite the danger, the crew’s priority was to ensure the safety of the passengers, attempting to pacify the situation while waiting for external help.

Captain Sharan’s Announcement

Back in the cockpit, after the initial altercation with Athar, Captain Sharan was instructed to make an announcement to the passengers. What he said next would send shivers down the spine of every person on board: “Ladies and gentlemen, this is your captain. Our plane has been hijacked. You must be patient and listen to the hijackers.” His words were blunt and clear, signaling to the passengers that the situation was dire and they would have to cooperate to survive. The tension in the cabin reached its peak as the hijackers brandished their weapons and barked orders at terrified passengers.

The Hijackers’ Demands

As the hijackers settled into their positions of power, they made their first demands known. They wanted the plane flown to Lahore, Pakistan, despite the captain’s warnings about insufficient fuel. Athar, unwilling to negotiate further, warned that if they didn’t comply, he would blow up the plane. The hijackers also began asking if there were any air marshals or guards on board, threatening violence if anyone attempted to resist.

Immediate Confusion and Chaos

With the hijackers now fully in control, panic began to ripple through the cabin. The first action taken by the hijackers was to separate the men from the women and children. In a chilling display of control, they ordered all male passengers to be blindfolded while women were seated together at the back of the plane. This act was designed not only to subdue the men but also to strip them of their agency, leaving them helpless and uncertain of what would come next.

Control of the Cabin

The hijackers methodically combed through the passenger cabin, violently asserting their authority by yelling orders and threatening anyone who seemed even remotely uncooperative. Luggage was ordered to be stowed away, and no one was allowed to move or speak without the hijackers’ permission. The hijackers showed particular cruelty toward some passengers, even beating individuals who appeared to resist.

Transponder Code 7500: A Silent Cry for Help

While chaos unfolded in the cabin, Captain Sharan made a desperate attempt to alert the authorities. Without the hijackers noticing, he discreetly changed the plane’s transponder code to 7500 MHz—the international signal for a hijacking. This coded distress call was a crucial move that notified ground control in Lucknow of the hijacking, giving Indian authorities their first inkling that IC814 was in grave danger. However, even with this silent alert, the response from the ground was delayed, leading to further complications.

Threats and Fear: The Hijackers’ Reign of Terror

As minutes turned into hours, the hijackers grew increasingly impatient and hostile. Every time the plane encountered a new obstacle—whether being denied landing permission by Pakistan or delayed fuel at Amritsar—their fury intensified. Hostage threats became more frequent, and physical violence was used to terrorize both the crew and passengers. The atmosphere in the plane was thick with fear, as every passenger realized they were at the mercy of men willing to kill at any moment.

The hijackers knew the stakes. They weren’t just seeking to escape with hostages; they were making a political statement. Their demands for the release of Maulana Masood Azhar and other militants marked the beginning of a tense stand-off that would stretch over days, with lives hanging in the balance and diplomatic negotiations stalling. The hijackers were now in total control of IC814, flying it toward an uncertain destination, as both passengers and crew braced for the unknown.

IV. Diplomatic and Crisis Response

Governmental Response

As news of the hijacking of Indian Airlines Flight IC814 began to trickle in, the Indian government faced a situation it hadn’t encountered in over a decade: a full-blown hijacking crisis. However, despite the gravity of the situation, the initial response from India’s leadership was slow, marked by delays in communication and decision-making. The first real challenge was the creation of the Crisis Management Group (CMG), the body responsible for coordinating the government’s actions in handling such situations.

The CMG, which was supposed to be mobilized swiftly in response to any national crisis, took an unusually long time to be assembled. This delay would later be criticized as one of the first major failures of the operation. By the time the CMG convened at 6 PM—nearly two hours after Lucknow’s air traffic control first received the transponder code signaling the hijacking—the plane was already heading toward Pakistani airspace.

Key Leadership Involved:

- Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee: As the head of government, Vajpayee's primary concern was to ensure the safety of the hostages, while also balancing the political and diplomatic repercussions of negotiating with terrorists.

• Home Minister L.K. Advani: As the head of internal security, Advani was responsible for coordinating the police and National Security Guard (NSG) commandos.
• RAW Chief A.S. Dulat: Dulat, the head of India’s Research and Analysis Wing (RAW), played a critical role in intelligence gathering and overseeing the negotiations with the hijackers.
• Nikhil Kumar, NSG Chief: Responsible for deploying India’s elite NSG commandos in anti-terrorist operations, Kumar’s team was delayed in taking action due to poor communication from the CMG.
• Foreign Minister Jaswant Singh: Singh would later become the face of the government’s negotiations, even traveling to Kandahar to secure the release of hostages.

As the hours ticked by, the Crisis Management Group found itself trapped in a web of bureaucratic red tape. Decisions that needed to be made urgently—such as coordinating with neighboring countries, mobilizing military assets, or sending negotiators to Amritsar—were often delayed or lost in the confusion. The lack of swift coordination within the Indian government would prove costly in the crucial first hours of the crisis.

Adding to the chaos, Home Minister Advani was not even informed of the hijacking by the government but instead learned about it through the TV news at around 6 PM. This lack of communication at the highest levels revealed severe shortcomings in India’s internal crisis management protocols.

Pakistan's Refusal

As Flight IC814 entered Pakistani airspace, the Indian government was forced to grapple with an urgent and complex diplomatic situation. The hijackers had demanded that the plane be flown to Lahore, but Pakistan, fresh from the aftermath of the Kargil War and already wary of its deteriorating relationship with India, refused to allow the aircraft to land.

At 4:56 PM, when India’s air traffic controllers confirmed the hijacking, Pakistan’s cooperation became critical. Indian authorities immediately reached out to their Pakistani counterparts, seeking landing permission for the hijacked flight. However, Pakistan, seeking to distance itself from the crisis and avoid any perceived entanglement in what it considered an “Indian problem,” denied the request.

The Lahore Runway Incident

When the hijacked flight approached Lahore, Pakistan’s air traffic control responded by taking drastic measures. In an attempt to prevent IC814 from landing, Lahore’s airport authorities turned off the runway lights, leaving the pilot and the passengers in a dangerous predicament. The move was intended to prevent the hijackers from gaining a foothold in Pakistan, but it created an even more volatile situation, with the plane low on fuel and flying blind in hostile territory.

Desperation set in among both the hijackers and the flight crew. The captain communicated with Lahore’s air traffic control, pleading for permission to land and warning that the plane would be forced to crash land if denied. After tense negotiations, Pakistan finally agreed to let the plane land for refueling but insisted that the aircraft leave Pakistani soil as soon as possible.

While this brief stopover in Lahore allowed the hijackers to refuel and regroup, it also demonstrated the growing complexities of the situation. Pakistan, unwilling to take responsibility for the hijacking, distanced itself diplomatically while also sending a clear message to India: the crisis was India’s to handle, not theirs.

Amritsar Airport Debacle

As IC814 left Pakistani airspace after refueling, the Indian government made the decision to direct the plane to Amritsar. The hope was to buy time and allow the elite National Security Guard (NSG) commandos to storm the plane and end the hijacking. However, what transpired at Amritsar Airport was one of the most disastrous moments in the entire crisis, leading to what many believe was a missed opportunity to resolve the situation early.

Delayed Refueling and Miscommunication

The plane landed in Amritsar at approximately 7 PM. The hijackers had demanded that the plane be refueled, but unbeknownst to them, the Crisis Management Group had already instructed Amritsar’s air traffic control to delay refueling as much as possible. The reasoning behind this was to buy time for the NSG commandos to arrive and launch a tactical operation.

However, a series of critical miscommunications between New Delhi and Amritsar created mass confusion. At one point, a fake phone call from someone pretending to be a joint secretary at the Ministry of Civil Aviation instructed the airport to refuel the plane immediately. This call threw local authorities into disarray, delaying the NSG team’s preparations and causing a lack of decisive action.

Failure to Act by the NSG

While Punjab’s state police had mobilized a team of commandos, the NSG’s elite forces, who were specifically trained for hijack situations, were delayed by bureaucratic hurdles. They were ready to deploy from New Delhi at 7:10 PM, but due to slow decision-making by the CMG, they were not cleared for departure until 7:55 PM. By the time they reached Amritsar, the hijacked plane had already left for Lahore, a mere six minutes earlier.

The Death of Rupin Katyal

Tragically, during the Amritsar stopover, the hijackers began to show signs of growing frustration and impatience. As the minutes dragged on without refueling, they turned their aggression toward the passengers. In a shocking display of violence, the hijackers brutally stabbed Rupin Katyal, the 25-year-old honeymooner, who had been traveling with his wife. Katyal’s injuries were severe, and despite his pleas for water and medical help, the hijackers left him to die, his body concealed beneath a blanket.

This horrific act of violence only heightened the urgency of the situation, but it was clear that the window for a swift, decisive response had closed. The confusion at Amritsar, compounded by the delayed response of the NSG commandos and the tragic death of Rupin Katyal, marked a major failure in India’s initial handling of the hijacking.

A Missed Opportunity

The Amritsar debacle would haunt the Indian government for years to come. What could have been a swift rescue operation, potentially saving Katyal’s life and preventing the hijackers from escaping to Pakistan, became a symbol of bureaucratic inertia and poor coordination. The hijackers, sensing that their demands were being ignored, ordered Captain Sharan to take off without permission from air traffic control. The plane left Indian soil once again, heading into international airspace, leaving India scrambling for answers and control.

The delays, miscommunications, and the missed opportunity at Amritsar ensured that the crisis was far from over—it was, in fact, only beginning. With the plane now headed toward Dubai, and potentially further into hostile territory, India was faced with an escalating crisis that would stretch across borders and test its diplomatic and military resolve to the limits.

V. International Movements and Diplomatic Maneuvering

Landing in Dubai: A Glimmer of Hope

After a harrowing stopover in Lahore and the tragic death of Rupin Katyal, the hijackers directed Indian Airlines Flight IC814 toward Dubai. It was now early in the morning of December 25, 1999, and the crew and passengers were growing increasingly exhausted and fearful. While the hijackers had succeeded in evading immediate military action in India and Pakistan, the next phase of the crisis would test the diplomatic might of several nations, beginning with the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

The plane landed at Al Minhad Air Force Base, a secluded military airstrip 60 kilometers from Dubai, at around 1:30 AM. The hijackers had made it clear to the crew that they intended to fly to Afghanistan, but since the Kabul airport did not have night landing capabilities, Dubai became their temporary stopover. This development brought the UAE into the crisis, and the country’s role quickly became pivotal in the next phase of negotiations.

The UAE’s Role in Negotiations

Unlike India’s earlier diplomatic struggles with Pakistan, the UAE took a much more active and cooperative role in defusing the situation. The UAE authorities were well aware of the sensitivity of the crisis, as their country was one of the few that had diplomatic relations with the Taliban, who controlled Afghanistan at the time. The Crown Prince of Dubai and other high-ranking officials became involved in facilitating discussions between the hijackers and the international negotiating teams, including Indian representatives.

Abdullah, the Negotiator

A key figure during this period was Abdullah, a UAE-based negotiator who worked tirelessly to broker a peaceful resolution. Abdullah was known for his skill in de-escalating crises, and he became the primary channel of communication between the hijackers and the international diplomats. One of his first goals was to reduce tensions on the plane and convince the hijackers to release some passengers in exchange for refueling the aircraft.

He used a calm but firm approach, offering the hijackers a deal: they would receive fuel and food, but in return, they had to release at least some passengers, particularly women and children. This was a turning point in the negotiations, as the hijackers, despite their hardline stance, were growing increasingly desperate for fuel to continue their journey to Afghanistan. After hours of tense negotiation, Abdullah secured the release of 27 passengers, including several women, children, and the deceased body of Rupin Katyal. This was the first real success in the international effort to bring some relief to the hostages aboard IC814.

The passengers who were released recalled the palpable sense of relief as they stepped off the aircraft, though their joy was tempered by the trauma of leaving behind family members and fellow travelers. For the passengers who remained, however, the ordeal was far from over.

Dubai’s Calculated Response

Although the UAE played a mediating role, its actions were carefully measured. The Dubai authorities were fully aware of the geopolitical sensitivity of the situation and avoided taking any direct military action against the hijackers. While the release of some passengers marked a diplomatic win, Dubai refused to allow Indian commandos to storm the plane at Al Minhad, citing concerns about escalation. As a result, the hijackers were allowed to refuel the plane and resume their journey, now headed toward Afghanistan—the hijackers' intended final destination. The stage was set for the next, and perhaps most critical, phase of the crisis: Kandahar.

Kandahar: The Final Destination

With dawn breaking on Christmas Day, IC814 took off from Dubai, flying toward Kandahar, Afghanistan. The hijackers, determined to gain leverage for their demands, were now entering a region controlled by the Taliban. For India, this presented a new set of challenges. Not only was the plane heading into hostile territory, but the Indian government had no formal diplomatic ties with the Taliban regime, which was internationally recognized only by Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE. This made Kandahar a treacherous destination for negotiations.

The Taliban’s Neutral Stance

Initially, the Taliban took a seemingly neutral position in the hijacking. While they allowed the plane to land at Kandahar, they claimed that they were not aligned with the hijackers’ cause. Upon arrival at Kandahar airport, the hijackers demanded that the passengers and crew remain on board, while Taliban fighters surrounded the aircraft to prevent any external interference. The hijackers believed they had reached a safe haven, assuming that the Taliban, who shared similar ideological beliefs, would support their demands.

However, the Taliban surprised many by not immediately siding with the hijackers. In a public statement, the Taliban leadership declared that they would not allow Afghanistan to be used as a base for terrorism and that the hijackers must settle their demands peacefully. This diplomatic positioning was crucial—it gave India a glimmer of hope that the Taliban could be convinced to pressure the hijackers into negotiating.

Negotiations Through Intermediaries

At this point, the Indian government faced an unprecedented challenge. Not only did they have to negotiate with the hijackers, but they also had to engage the Taliban indirectly, using intermediaries from Pakistan and the UAE. Since India had no embassy in Afghanistan and no official communication lines with the Taliban, the Pakistan High Commission in Afghanistan and UAE diplomats played crucial roles in mediating between the Indian government and the Taliban.

Through these intermediaries, India attempted to gauge the Taliban’s true stance and to seek their cooperation in resolving the crisis. Indian officials, led by Foreign Minister Jaswant Singh, engaged in delicate diplomacy, hoping to convince the Taliban to act as neutral arbiters and prevent any further escalation.

India’s Frantic Attempts to Contact the Taliban

While the Taliban publicly maintained a neutral stance, privately, they began exerting subtle pressure on the hijackers. Taliban leader Mullah Mohammad Omar reportedly communicated with the hijackers, urging them to release the passengers and avoid further violence. This marked a shift in the negotiations, as the hijackers, realizing that they might not have the full backing of the Taliban, began to reconsider their demands.

Meanwhile, the Indian government, led by Prime Minister Vajpayee and a team of negotiators, worked around the clock to establish a direct line of communication with the Taliban. Foreign Minister Jaswant Singh flew to Kandahar with a team of negotiators, including Ajit Doval and Vivek Katju, to handle the situation personally. Singh’s mission was simple but daunting: secure the release of the hostages without conceding to the hijackers’ demands for the release of terrorists, including Maulana Masood Azhar.

Cautious Diplomacy and Desperation

India’s approach to negotiating with the Taliban was marked by caution and desperation. The government knew that military action was impossible in Kandahar, especially without the support of the Taliban. This meant that diplomacy was their only option. Jaswant Singh's strategy was to buy time and delay the hijackers, hoping they would grow more desperate and lower their demands. However, as the days dragged on and the situation inside the plane deteriorated, India was forced into a corner.

Despite India’s cautious diplomacy, the hijackers remained firm in their demand: the release of Masood Azhar and two other terrorists. The longer the negotiations stretched, the more the Indian government realized that a diplomatic solution would require some form of concession.

With each passing day, the passengers’ lives were hanging by a thread. The international diplomatic dance between India, Pakistan, the UAE, and the Taliban highlighted the complexities of global terrorism and the challenges of handling hostage crises in an increasingly interconnected world.

VI. The Hijackers’ Demands and Negotiations

Demands for Release

From the moment the hijacking of Indian Airlines Flight IC814 began, it became evident that the hijackers had a specific goal in mind. Their primary demand was not for money or a simple political statement; they wanted the release of Maulana Masood Azhar, one of the most dangerous terrorists in custody at the time. As the days progressed, their demands would shift and evolve, but at the heart of their negotiation remained the freedom of a man who had become a key figure in the world of international terrorism.

The Main Demand: Release of Masood Azhar

Masood Azhar was no ordinary militant. His involvement in terrorist activities, particularly in Kashmir, made him a highly valuable asset to militant organizations like Harkat-ul-Mujahideen and later Jaish-e-Mohammed. Born in Bahawalpur, Pakistan, in 1968, Azhar was raised in a deeply religious family and developed an early interest in Islamic studies. He rose to prominence in the early 1990s when he became an active member of Harkat-ul-Mujahideen, a militant group focused on spreading jihad in Kashmir and other parts of India.

Azhar’s skill lay in his ability to galvanize young recruits through his fiery speeches and strategic vision. Unlike many other militant leaders, Azhar was not known for his physical prowess but rather for his ability to communicate, inspire, and organize. By the early 1990s, he had become a significant figure in the jihadist movement. In 1994, during a covert mission to unite different militant groups in Kashmir, Azhar was arrested by Indian authorities in Srinagar. His arrest dealt a major blow to his organization and the wider militant networks operating in the region.

Azhar remained in Indian custody for five years, becoming a symbol of resistance and martyrdom for jihadist groups. Throughout this period, efforts to secure his release were made multiple times, including the kidnapping of foreign tourists in Kashmir in the mid-1990s. However, none of these attempts succeeded. The hijacking of IC814 was the most audacious effort yet to secure his freedom. The hijackers made it clear from the start: Masood Azhar had to be released, or they would begin killing passengers.

Progression of Demands: From 35 Militants to Three Prisoners

At the beginning of the hijacking, the demands were sweeping. The hijackers asked for the release of 35 militants from Indian jails, along with $200 million in ransom. These demands were communicated via intermediaries and the negotiators on the ground. However, as days passed, it became clear that the hijackers were facing increasing desperation, and their demands began to shift.

The Indian government, well aware that agreeing to the release of 35 militants would not only empower terrorist groups but also create a dangerous precedent, refused to meet the hijackers' original demands. Instead, Indian negotiators, led by Ajit Doval and Vivek Katju, worked to delay the situation, hoping to wear down the hijackers while assessing options for a potential rescue mission.

With each passing day, the hijackers reduced their demands. First, they lowered the number of prisoners to 15, then to 5, and finally, they settled on the release of just three individuals: Masood Azhar, Mushtaq Ahmed Zargar, and Ahmed Omar Saeed Sheikh. These three men represented significant figures in the militant world, and their release would still be a major concession by the Indian government, but it was far more manageable than the hijackers' initial demands.

The Three Prisoners

1. Masood Azhar: As previously mentioned, Azhar’s role in organizing jihadist movements in Kashmir made him the most significant of the three prisoners. His release would have far-reaching consequences, as he would go on to found Jaish-e-Mohammed and orchestrate several major terrorist attacks in India, including the 2001 Parliament attack and the 2019 Pulwama attack.
2. Mushtaq Ahmed Zargar: Zargar, also known as Latram, was a militant leader involved in insurgent activities in Kashmir. Like Azhar, he was a member of Harkat-ul-Mujahideen and had been imprisoned by Indian authorities for his role in violent attacks against Indian forces. His release would allow him to resume his militant activities in Kashmir.
3. Ahmed Omar Saeed Sheikh: Perhaps the most notorious of the three, Sheikh was a British-born militant with links to Al-Qaeda. He would later be involved in the kidnapping and murder of Daniel Pearl, a Wall Street Journal reporter, in Pakistan in 2002. His release in the aftermath of the IC814 hijacking would prove to be one of the most controversial aspects of the entire crisis.

Challenges in Negotiations

As the days of the hijacking wore on, the Indian government faced increasing pressure both domestically and internationally to resolve the crisis. Each day the passengers remained on board IC814, the threat to their lives grew. The hijackers, while initially confident and in control, began to exhibit signs of desperation as their demands were delayed and negotiations stretched out.

Desperation of the Hijackers

The longer the hijackers stayed in Kandahar, the more frustrated and nervous they became. The Taliban’s ambiguous stance—they neither supported nor openly opposed the hijackers—left them without a clear sense of security. Their frustration was evident in their increasingly erratic behavior. On several occasions, they threatened to kill hostages if their demands were not met, but each time, the Indian negotiators managed to buy more time.

Inside the plane, the hijackers began to lose patience, turning violent on several occasions and attacking passengers. They knew that the longer they stayed in one place, the greater the risk that Indian or foreign special forces would attempt a rescue mission. This fear pushed them to press harder in negotiations, but it also made them more open to reducing their demands.

The Indian Negotiating Team: Ajit Doval and Vivek Katju

The Indian negotiating team, led by Ajit Doval, a counter-insurgency expert, and Vivek Katju, a seasoned diplomat, faced immense challenges. Both men understood that the lives of 176 passengers were at stake, and they had to tread carefully. Any misstep could provoke the hijackers into carrying out their threats.

Doval and Katju worked tirelessly to extend the negotiation process, engaging in psychological warfare with the hijackers. They knew that the longer the situation dragged on, the more pressure the hijackers would feel, and the more likely they were to reduce their demands. This strategy, though risky, was designed to avoid the bloodshed of a rescue operation while still keeping the option of military intervention on the table.

Psychological Warfare: Delay Tactics and Negotiating Power

The Indian negotiating team employed various delay tactics to keep the hijackers off-balance. They frequently requested time to "consult" with higher authorities, knowing full well that the hijackers were growing anxious. These delays frustrated the hijackers but also forced them to reconsider their demands, especially when they realized that no immediate military action was forthcoming from the Indian side.

On the other hand, the hijackers used their control over the passengers as their primary tool of leverage. They made it clear that any delay or refusal from the Indian government would result in violence. The murder of Rupin Katyal during the Amritsar stopover had already demonstrated that the hijackers were willing to act on their threats, making the situation even more perilous.

Despite the threats, Doval and Katju continued to delay, hoping that the hijackers’ growing desperation would lead them to settle for fewer concessions. Both sides were locked in a psychological battle: the hijackers pressing for immediate action, while the Indian negotiators stalled for time. Meanwhile, behind the scenes, Indian intelligence was working to gather information about the hijackers' movements and affiliations, looking for any weakness that could be exploited.

The Turning Point: Conceding to the Final Demand

By the fifth day of the crisis, it became clear that the situation could not drag on indefinitely. The hijackers, though increasingly desperate, remained resolute in their demand for the release of Masood Azhar, Mushtaq Ahmed Zargar, and Ahmed Omar Saeed Sheikh. The Indian government, facing mounting pressure from the families of the hostages and the international community, had to make a choice: either continue delaying and risk more lives or agree to the release of the three terrorists.

On December 31, 1999, after nearly a week of tense negotiations, the Indian government made the difficult decision to release the three prisoners in exchange for the safe return of the hostages. Foreign Minister Jaswant Singh personally flew to Kandahar to oversee the exchange. The hostages were finally freed, and the hijackers, along with the released prisoners, were given safe passage out of Afghanistan.

The Indian government’s decision, while securing the release of the passengers, would have far-reaching consequences. Masood Azhar, once free, would go on to form Jaish-e-Mohammed, a terrorist organization responsible for numerous attacks on Indian soil. The release of these three militants would forever remain a controversial chapter in India’s counter-terrorism history, highlighting the immense challenges and moral dilemmas faced by nations during such crises.

VII. Diplomatic Pressure and Resolution

Final Days in Kandahar

As the days dragged on in Kandahar, both the hijackers and the Indian government found themselves under immense pressure. The hijackers, initially confident, began to grow anxious as time passed without any resolution. Although they had succeeded in forcing the plane to a relatively safe haven under Taliban-controlled Afghanistan, the standoff was far from over. For the Indian government, each passing day intensified public pressure, as families of the hostages demanded swift action, and the media followed every development closely.

The Role of the Taliban in Lowering Demands

Throughout the final days, the Taliban maintained a calculated distance from the hijackers, despite their ideological sympathies. The Taliban’s initial stance was one of neutrality—they allowed the hijacked plane to land but did not actively support the hijackers’ cause. However, as the days passed and the international spotlight intensified, the Taliban leadership became more involved, albeit discreetly.

Led by Mullah Mohammad Omar, the Taliban leadership privately began pressuring the hijackers to lower their demands. The Taliban’s primary concern was to avoid any international confrontation or military intervention on Afghan soil. While they shared some ideological common ground with the hijackers, they did not want the hijacking to escalate into a situation that could bring unwanted scrutiny from the international community, particularly from the United States, which was closely monitoring the events.

Through back-channel communications, the Taliban urged the hijackers to avoid killing any more hostages and to focus on a negotiation that could bring the crisis to a peaceful end. This quiet pressure, combined with the hijackers’ growing realization that they could not remain in Kandahar indefinitely, contributed to their decision to reduce their demands. The hijackers, who had initially asked for the release of 35 militants, began to lower their expectations.

The Ultimate Deal: Release of Three Terrorists

By the sixth day of negotiations, it became clear that the situation needed resolution. The hijackers had reduced their demands to the release of three specific terrorists: Maulana Masood Azhar, Ahmed Omar Saeed Sheikh, and Mushtaq Ahmed Zargar. These three were all significant figures in international terrorism, and their release would be a major victory for the hijackers.

Masood Azhar was the most notable of the three, a high-ranking figure in Harkat-ul-Mujahideen, whose release was expected to galvanize militant activity in Kashmir. Ahmed Omar Saeed Sheikh, a British-born militant with ties to Al-Qaeda, would later gain international notoriety for his role in the kidnapping and murder of journalist Daniel Pearl. Mushtaq Ahmed Zargar, also known as “Latram,” was another key figure involved in militant activities in Kashmir.

With the hijackers’ demands focused on these three individuals, the Indian government found itself in a dilemma. The release of these terrorists would undoubtedly have long-term consequences, but the safety of the 176 hostages remained the priority. Under immense pressure, Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and his cabinet made the difficult decision to agree to the hijackers' demands.

On December 31, 1999, the Indian government officially agreed to release Azhar, Sheikh, and Zargar in exchange for the safety of the hostages. Foreign Minister Jaswant Singh was tasked with overseeing the exchange personally, flying with the released terrorists to Kandahar.

The Release and Its Aftermath

The moments leading up to the release of the hostages were fraught with tension, both inside the plane and on the ground. The hijackers, who had terrorized the passengers for nearly a week, knew they were close to achieving their goal. However, their behavior shifted in the final hours, becoming more conciliatory as they prepared to leave Kandahar with the three released terrorists.

Emotional Scenes During the Passenger Release

As the Indian delegation arrived in Kandahar, the hijackers received their final prize: the release of Masood Azhar, Ahmed Omar Saeed Sheikh, and Mushtaq Ahmed Zargar. For the passengers, the end of their nightmare was in sight, but the trauma of the ordeal remained palpable.

The release of the passengers from the plane was marked by overwhelming emotions. After days of living in fear for their lives, the hostages were finally allowed to disembark. Rachna Katyal, the widow of Rupin Katyal, who had been brutally murdered by the hijackers during the Amritsar stopover, was among the last to leave the plane. Her grief-stricken face was a stark reminder of the horrors the passengers had endured.

Many passengers wept openly as they stepped off the aircraft, embracing the Indian diplomats and military personnel who had arrived to escort them home. Some passengers later described the surreal nature of their final moments on the plane, as the hijackers, who had terrorized them for days, suddenly became apologetic. One of the hijackers, Burger, reportedly hugged Captain Devi Sharan and expressed regret for the ordeal, a gesture that left the crew and passengers confused and shocked.

For the Indian government, securing the release of all the passengers without further bloodshed was a relief. However, the emotional toll on both the passengers and their families was immense, and the decision to release the three terrorists would soon ignite a firestorm of criticism.

The Safe Return of Passengers and Crew to India

After being released, the passengers and crew of IC814 were flown back to India on January 1, 2000. The mood upon their return was one of mixed emotions: relief, grief, and anger. Families who had waited in agony for the return of their loved ones were finally able to embrace them, but the trauma of the hijacking left deep scars. The crew, particularly Captain Devi Sharan, was praised for their calm handling of the situation, and public ceremonies were held to honor their bravery.

Prime Minister Vajpayee, Home Minister L.K. Advani, and Foreign Minister Jaswant Singh personally greeted the returning passengers, offering their condolences and congratulations. While the nation celebrated the safe return of the hostages, a deep sense of unease lingered regarding the consequences of the government’s concessions to the hijackers.

International Reaction to India’s Decision

The decision to release Masood Azhar, Ahmed Omar Saeed Sheikh, and Mushtaq Ahmed Zargar sparked intense debate both within India and internationally. While many countries, including the United States and United Kingdom, expressed relief that the crisis had been resolved without further loss of life, there was widespread concern about the long-term implications of the deal.

The release of Masood Azhar, in particular, was seen as a major victory for militant groups operating in South Asia. Shortly after his release, Azhar would go on to form Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM), a terrorist organization that would be responsible for several high-profile attacks, including the 2001 Indian Parliament attack and the 2019 Pulwama attack, which killed 40 Indian soldiers. His release empowered extremist groups and destabilized the region further.

Similarly, Ahmed Omar Saeed Sheikh’s release was a cause for alarm in international intelligence circles. Sheikh, who had ties to Al-Qaeda, would later be involved in the kidnapping and murder of Daniel Pearl, a Wall Street Journal reporter, in Pakistan in 2002. His release raised concerns about the growing nexus between South Asian militant groups and global terrorist organizations.

India’s Internal Reactions

Within India, the decision to release the terrorists was met with widespread criticism. While the public was grateful for the safe return of the hostages, many questioned whether the government had set a dangerous precedent by negotiating with terrorists. The families of victims of future attacks, particularly those carried out by JeM, would later express anger and frustration over the government’s decision to release Azhar.

The opposition parties in India also seized on the government’s actions, accusing Prime Minister Vajpayee’s administration of weakness in the face of terrorism. In the years that followed, the IC814 hijacking and its resolution would remain a controversial chapter in India’s counter-terrorism history.

The Lingering Consequences

The hijacking of IC814 ended with the release of the hostages, but its aftermath reverberated for years to come. The decision to release three high-profile terrorists in exchange for the passengers’ safety would have profound implications for India’s fight against terrorism. The rise of Jaish-e-Mohammed, led by Masood Azhar, marked a new era of militancy in Kashmir, and the region would witness a surge in terrorist activities over the following decades.

While the immediate crisis was resolved, the IC814 hijacking left deep scars on India’s national consciousness. It exposed vulnerabilities in the country’s security apparatus and raised difficult questions about how far a nation should go to protect its citizens in the face of terrorism. The hijacking, and the release of the terrorists, continues to serve as a cautionary tale of the delicate balance between diplomacy, security, and the fight against extremism.

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