The 1999 hijacking of Indian Airlines Flight IC 814 is back in the spotlight with the release of a new Netflix series, IC 814 – The Kandahar Hijack. The series, a dramatised version of the high-stakes incident, has sparked a wave of controversy for its depiction of the hijackers and the events that unfolded.
The hijacking, which took place on December 24, 1999, occurred when the plane, which was en route from Kathmandu to New Delhi, was hijacked by Pakistani hijackers shortly after entering Indian airspace. The plane was diverted to several locations, including Amritsar, Lahore, Dubai, and finally Kandahar, Afghanistan (then under Taliban rule), before the Indian government agreed to the hijackers’ demands and released three terrorists in exchange for the hostages.
However, the Netflix series has come under fire for its depiction of the hijackers, particularly for its use of “Hindu” codenames, which some critics argue are misleading. Concerns have also been raised about the depiction of the negotiation process led by the current national security adviser. Ajit Dovaland the alleged omission of the role played by Pakistani intelligence agencies in the kidnapping. In response, the government has summoned Netflix India’s content chief to address these issues.
Now, amidst the ongoing controversy, here is a closer look at the three terrorists released by the Indian government in exchange for the hostages aboard IC 814.
Who were the three terrorists released by the Indian government?
The three terrorists released after the kidnapping — Ahmed Omar Saeed Sheikh, Masood Azhar and Mushtaq Ahmed Zargar — have had a lasting impact on global terrorism.
Meanwhile, Masood Azhar founded Jaish-e-Mohammed, a group responsible for numerous attacks in India, including the Pulwama attack in 2019. His brother, Rauf Asghar, continues to engage in violent activities in Jammu and Kashmir.
In addition, Ahmed Omar Saeed Sheikh, initially sentenced to death for the murder of journalist Daniel Pearl, had his conviction overturned in 2020 by Pakistan’s Sindh High Court. He remains in jail in Lahore while his acquittal is being appealed. Significantly, Mushtaq Ahmed Zargar is reportedly still involved in militant activities in the region.
Disclaimer:
The information contained in this post is for general information purposes only. We make no representations or warranties of any kind, express or implied, about the completeness, accuracy, reliability, suitability or availability with respect to the website or the information, products, services, or related graphics contained on the post for any purpose.
We respect the intellectual property rights of content creators. If you are the owner of any material featured on our website and have concerns about its use, please contact us. We are committed to addressing any copyright issues promptly and will remove any material within 2 days of receiving a request from the rightful owner.