IC 814: The Kandahar Hijack: Former RAW Chief shares insights on what ACTUALLY happened

The 1999 Kandahar hijacking of Indian Airlines Flight IC 814 remains one of the most significant and controversial events in India’s history. The recent series, 'IC 814: The Kandahar Hijack', has sparked debate and controversy over its portrayal of this crisis, leading to a reevaluation of the facts surrounding the incident. Amid the outcry, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting stepped in, asking Netflix India to update the series' disclaimer to reflect the gravity of the real-life events.

In reality, the hijacking presented one of the most challenging crises India has ever faced. A team of four top Indian officials, led by Ajit Doval, who is now the National Security Advisor, was sent to Kandahar to negotiate with the terrorists. Despite their best efforts, the situation culminated in India releasing three high-profile terrorists, including the notorious Masood Azhar, to secure the safe return of hostages.

Former R&AW chief A.S. Dulat, in an interview with journalist Barkha Dutt, shed light on how Doval felt about the negotiation process. According to Dulat, Doval deeply regretted the way things played out. Doval, who shared similar views as then Home Minister Lal Krishna Advani, was unhappy about releasing the terrorists, particularly Masood Azhar. Dulat noted that both Doval and Advani were against the release, but circumstances left them with no choice.

Reflecting on Doval's feelings, Dulat said, "He [Doval] regretted it because he was a disciple of Advani. Their thinking was similar. Whatever Advani ji felt, Ajit must have felt it too." Despite this regret, Dulat emphasized that Doval remained a true professional throughout the ordeal.

The negotiations in Kandahar were fraught with danger and uncertainty. According to Dulat, Doval’s call on December 30, 1999, six days after the hijacking, painted a bleak picture. Doval expressed concern that even the negotiators themselves were not safe. Dulat recalled that Doval’s most worrying call came when he realized that the situation was spiraling out of control, and the negotiators were in danger. He said, “Please resolve it quickly because we do not know what will happen here.’”

The hijackers initially demanded the release of 105 terrorists, but after days of tense negotiations, the list was reduced to three, including Masood Azhar. The pressure on the Indian government was immense, especially with the Taliban’s warning that the negotiators either resolve the issue or leave Kandahar.

The Indian government eventually gave in to the demands, releasing the three terrorists in exchange for the hostages. However, the hijackers had already killed one passenger, Rupin Katyal, marking a tragic end to the crisis. Dulat acknowledged that while the government was reluctant to release the terrorists, there was little alternative given the circumstances.