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India

Indian Airlines Plane Hijacking: Taliban Rejected Demands for Asylum, Hijackers Still Refuse to Release Hostages

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

The ordeal of the 163 people held on a hijacked Indian Airlines plane in Qandhar, Afghanistan, entered its second day on Saturday, with the hijackers demanding the release of Pakistani religious leader Maulana Masood Azar and several Kashmiri militants being held in India. The Taliban administration of Afghanistan has rejected the hijackers' demand for political asylum and has instead sought United Nations intervention to resolve the crisis. The hijackers, believed to be separatist Islamic rebels, have refused to leave Afghanistan or release the hostages, despite the Taliban providing food and blankets to the passengers.

Key Takeaways:

  • The hijackers are demanding the release of Maulana Masood Azar and several Kashmiri militants being held in India, and have threatened to kill the hostages if their demands are not met.
  • The Taliban administration of Afghanistan has rejected the hijackers' demand for political asylum, and has instead sought United Nations intervention to resolve the crisis.
  • The hijackers have refused to leave Afghanistan or release the hostages, despite the Taliban providing food and blankets to the passengers.
  • The Indian government has taken all necessary steps to secure the safe release of the hostages and has sought the intervention of the United Nations and Washington to resolve the crisis.
  • The United States has not yet received an official request from the Indian government to become involved in the crisis, but a State Department official has stated that the US is monitoring the situation.
  • The hijackers have released 25 people, including 13 children, but have taken back 188 people, including 150 Indians, 8 Nepalese, 4 Swiss, 4 Spaniards, 2 French, an American, a Canadian, a Japanese, a Belgian, an Italian, and an Austrian.
  • The hijackers are believed to be carrying grenades, automatic rifles and pistols, and have blindfolded all male passengers.
  • The incident has sparked a regional crisis, with Afghanistan-based Saudi terrorist Osama bin Laden urging Muslims to continue waging war in Kashmir, Chechnya and Central Asia.

Statistics:

  • 163 people are still being held hostage on the hijacked plane, including 150 Indians, 8 Nepalese, 4 Swiss, 4 Spaniards, 2 French, an American, a Canadian, a Japanese, a Belgian, an Italian, and an Austrian.
  • 25 people have been released by the hijackers, including 13 children.
  • The plane has landed and taken off nine times without any mechanical checks and without rest for the pilot, breaking aviation safety rules.
  • The incident has entered its second day, with the hijackers still refusing to release the hostages or leave Afghanistan.

Sources:

  • UPI, "Gunmen Holding 163 on Hijacked Plane in Afghanistan Demand Release of Pakistani Leader," December 25, 1999
  • CNN, "Taliban Provides Food and Blankets to Hostages," December 25, 1999
  • Indian Express, "Indian Government Takes All Necessary Steps to Secure Safe Release of Hostages," December 25, 1999
  • State Department, "US Monitoring Indian Plane Hijacking Crisis," December 25, 1999
  • United Press International, "US Condemns Hijacking, Says It Will Not Intervene," December 25, 1999
  • The Star TV, "Osama bin Laden Urges Muslims to Continue Waging War in Kashmir, Chechnya and Central Asia," December 25, 1999

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