The Truth behind Kandahar

The lies propagated by Congress

Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh, when questioned about UPA’s dismal performance to tackle terror, raised the Kandahar episode in his defence

“I am not a weak Prime Minister. We sent commandos to fight terrorists in Mumbai, unlike the BJP, which sent its External Affair Minister to surrender at Kandahar.”Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in his interaction with members of the Women’s Press Corps, at Taj Palace in New Delhi (10 April, 2009)

The chain of events started unfolding on December 24, 1999 when Indian Airline flight IC 814 was hijacked on its way to New Delhi from Kathmandu

24 Dec24 Dec

– IC-814 takes off for New Delhi from Tribhuvan International Airport, Kathmandu– 178 passengers and 11 crew on board– Half an hour later, five men announce they have hijacked the plane – Flight redirected to Lahore but permission to land refused– Fuel is running low. Turns back towards Amritsar and lands there– The hijackers start stabbing selected male passengers. Leaves Amritsar with little fuel– Pakistan allows landing after New Delhi makes a request. Plane is refueled– Takes off for Oman. Permission to land in Muscat refused. Heads for Dubai

– IC-814 takes off for New Delhi from Tribhuvan International Airport, Kathmandu– 178 passengers and 11 crew on board– Half an hour later, five men announce they have hijacked the plane – Flight redirected to Lahore but permission to land refused– Fuel is running low. Turns back towards Amritsar and lands there– The hijackers start stabbing selected male passengers. Leaves Amritsar with little fuel– Pakistan allows landing after New Delhi makes a request. Plane is refueled– Takes off for Oman. Permission to land in Muscat refused. Heads for Dubai

The horrific episode finally ended with the intervention of Indian Government securing the release of all the hostages

27 Dec27 Dec– Hijackers threaten to kill hostages if their demand is not met.– Indian diplomat makes radio contact with hijackers. – Indian officials arrive in Kandahar. First direct talks with the hijackers begin

– Hijackers threaten to kill hostages if their demand is not met.– Indian diplomat makes radio contact with hijackers. – Indian officials arrive in Kandahar. First direct talks with the hijackers begin

25 Dec25 Dec– Lands at a military air base in Dubai– Hijackers release 27 passengers, leaves for Kabul. Destination changed to Kandahar

– Lands at a military air base in Dubai– Hijackers release 27 passengers, leaves for Kabul. Destination changed to Kandahar

26 Dec26 Dec– Lands at Kandahar. Hijackers make first demand: Release Maulana Masood Azhar– Afghanistan says it will not allow any military operation to rescue hostage

– Lands at Kandahar. Hijackers make first demand: Release Maulana Masood Azhar– Afghanistan says it will not allow any military operation to rescue hostage

28 Dec28 Dec– Talks continue. Taliban warns that troops will storm plane if hostages are harmed– Hijackers reject appeal for release of children and mothers on plane– In addition to Azhar's release, they now demand 35 other militants, the body of a slain

militant, and a sum of $200 million.

– Talks continue. Taliban warns that troops will storm plane if hostages are harmed– Hijackers reject appeal for release of children and mothers on plane– In addition to Azhar's release, they now demand 35 other militants, the body of a slain

militant, and a sum of $200 million.

29 Dec29 Dec– India begins fourth round of negotiation.– Hijackers drop demand for money and return of slain militant's body.

– India begins fourth round of negotiation.– Hijackers drop demand for money and return of slain militant's body.

30 Dec30 Dec– "Intense round" of direct talks nearly breaks down completely. Additional Taliban troops

surround plane. But talks are resumed later.– Another sick hostage is released. He returns to plane after treatment.– External Affairs Minister Jaswant Singh says talks are "extremely delicately poised.“

– "Intense round" of direct talks nearly breaks down completely. Additional Taliban troops surround plane. But talks are resumed later.

– Another sick hostage is released. He returns to plane after treatment.– External Affairs Minister Jaswant Singh says talks are "extremely delicately poised.“

31 Dec31 Dec– Foreign Minister Jaswant Singh announces decision to fly to Kandahar– India agrees to release three militants for the hostages. Mushtaq Ahmed Zargar, Abdul

Aziz Dar and Ahmed Omar Syed Sheikh– Singh flies with the three to Kandahar. – Hostages are freed

– Foreign Minister Jaswant Singh announces decision to fly to Kandahar– India agrees to release three militants for the hostages. Mushtaq Ahmed Zargar, Abdul

Aziz Dar and Ahmed Omar Syed Sheikh– Singh flies with the three to Kandahar. – Hostages are freed

Bringing up Kandahar to hide the shame of Mumbai 26/11 is a blatant attempt by Congress to hide its govt.’s complete failure to deal with terror

Home groundHome ground Hostile ground: Taliban controlled and Pakistan-supported Afghanistan

Hostile ground: Taliban controlled and Pakistan-supported Afghanistan

Surprise hijack in foreign territory of NepalSurprise hijack in foreign territory of Nepal

Prior Intelligence reports of terrorist entering via sea ignored by PM, Defence Minister and NSA.

Prior Intelligence reports of terrorist entering via sea ignored by PM, Defence Minister and NSA.

One civilian casualtyOne civilian casualtyNearly 200 civilians deadNearly 200 civilians dead

Public sentiment in favor of unpleasant decision taken by Govt. in extra-ordinary circumstances

Public sentiment in favor of unpleasant decision taken by Govt. in extra-ordinary circumstances

Huge outcry in public against government's inefficiencyHuge outcry in public against government's inefficiency

If the UPA Government was not at fault, why were the Union Home Minister and the Maharshtra Chief Minister sacked after the incident??

In Kandahar, the Indian Government was faced with a lack of options as it figured out the strategy to secure the release of the hostages

Military option – Send commandos to KandaharMilitary option – Send commandos to Kandahar

– The plane was stranded on a hostile territory surrounded by Taliban army– No diplomatic relationship with Taliban– Taliban refused to allow and military operation on its soil– Indian commandos could not have acted without Taliban’s cooperation– Pakistan refused usage of its air-space

– The plane was stranded on a hostile territory surrounded by Taliban army– No diplomatic relationship with Taliban– Taliban refused to allow and military operation on its soil– Indian commandos could not have acted without Taliban’s cooperation– Pakistan refused usage of its air-space

Non-military option – Prolong negotiations to wear out hijackersNon-military option – Prolong negotiations to wear out hijackers

– Several rounds of negotiations had failed– Hijackers had already killed one hostage; threatened many more – Time was running out; Huge outcry among media and relatives– Intense pressure on government to save lives of the hostage at all costs– Condition of hostages worsening with passing time

– Several rounds of negotiations had failed– Hijackers had already killed one hostage; threatened many more – Time was running out; Huge outcry among media and relatives– Intense pressure on government to save lives of the hostage at all costs– Condition of hostages worsening with passing time

The Opposition, which accuses BJP for being soft on terrorists during Kandahar, was itself putting pressure to secure the safety of hostages

The then Opposition, including the Congress, asked the government to save lives of hostage as priority during the All-party meetingThe then Opposition, including the Congress, asked the government to save lives of hostage as priority during the All-party meeting

“The all-party meeting has left the final decision on what needed to be done on the government. .. However, they cautioned the government that whatever decision it takes must be taken keeping in mind the interests and safety of the passengers who were on board the star-crossed aircraft. “

- Rediff.com, 27 December, 1999

“The all-party meeting has left the final decision on what needed to be done on the government. .. However, they cautioned the government that whatever decision it takes must be taken keeping in mind the interests and safety of the passengers who were on board the star-crossed aircraft. “

- Rediff.com, 27 December, 1999

Current Home Minister P. Chidambaram himself endorsed the decisionCurrent Home Minister P. Chidambaram himself endorsed the decision

“I do not know how I would have reacted if 150 families came to my doorstep and pleaded that the lives of their loved ones in that aircraft must be saved. It is easy to criticize but if one is in that position, it is a very difficult decision.”

"It (No negotiation with terrorists) is a wholesome principle but I agree that it is an over-simplification....I am not sure. I don't know whether it can be applied in all situations"

- P Chidambaram at NDTV Awards Function on 21tst January, 2009

“I do not know how I would have reacted if 150 families came to my doorstep and pleaded that the lives of their loved ones in that aircraft must be saved. It is easy to criticize but if one is in that position, it is a very difficult decision.”

"It (No negotiation with terrorists) is a wholesome principle but I agree that it is an over-simplification....I am not sure. I don't know whether it can be applied in all situations"

- P Chidambaram at NDTV Awards Function on 21tst January, 2009

Earlier governments have shown no hesitation to release terrorists when faced with less demanding situations

DECISION MAKER: V.P. SinghPARTY: JANATA DAL

RUBAIYA’S ABDUCTION (Aug 1991) 8 militants releasedRUBAIYA’S ABDUCTION (Aug 1991) 8 militants released

Rubaiya, daughter of Mufti Mohammed Sayeed, was kidnapped by militants

SETTLEMENT: Six days later, 8 separatists including Pakistan-trained Sher Khan, Noor Mohammed Kalwal, Altaf Ahmad and Javed Ahmed Jargar were released

Rubaiya, daughter of Mufti Mohammed Sayeed, was kidnapped by militants

SETTLEMENT: Six days later, 8 separatists including Pakistan-trained Sher Khan, Noor Mohammed Kalwal, Altaf Ahmad and Javed Ahmed Jargar were released

HAZRATBAL SEIGE (Sep-Oct 1993) 40 militants given safe passageHAZRATBAL SEIGE (Sep-Oct 1993) 40 militants given safe passage

40 armed JKLF militants occupied the holy Hazratbal shrine and held nearly 170 civilians hostage for six weeks

SETTLEMENT: Militants given safe passage on the understanding that they will give themselves up to the local police and not the army, and their bail applications will not be contested. In six months all were freed and escaped.

40 armed JKLF militants occupied the holy Hazratbal shrine and held nearly 170 civilians hostage for six weeks

SETTLEMENT: Militants given safe passage on the understanding that they will give themselves up to the local police and not the army, and their bail applications will not be contested. In six months all were freed and escaped.

DECISION MAKER: PM P.V. Narasimha RaoPARTY: CONGRESS

The PM spoke irresponsibly in ridiculing BJP for saving the lives of its citizens in the Kandahar hijack

- Takes all his orders from 10 Janpath- PM in power but not in authority- Constantly threatened by allies during tenure- Has never won an election- Shies away from contesting elections even after 5 years as

PM

- Takes all his orders from 10 Janpath- PM in power but not in authority- Constantly threatened by allies during tenure- Has never won an election- Shies away from contesting elections even after 5 years as

PM

- The commandos reached 9 hours after the attack- PM, Defence Minister had received intelligence reports about

terrorists entering India from sea- Home minister was nowhere to be seen- Maharashtra Home Minister trivializes the incident- Media allowed to play in the hands of terrorists- Nearly 200 lives lost

- The commandos reached 9 hours after the attack- PM, Defence Minister had received intelligence reports about

terrorists entering India from sea- Home minister was nowhere to be seen- Maharashtra Home Minister trivializes the incident- Media allowed to play in the hands of terrorists- Nearly 200 lives lost

- Taliban could not have been trusted to make a fair deal- Jaswant Singh’s was an act of courage to save the lives of

India’s citizens- Negotiations succeeded in bringing down the demand from

36 terrorists to 3- All remaining hostages safely brought back alive

- Taliban could not have been trusted to make a fair deal- Jaswant Singh’s was an act of courage to save the lives of

India’s citizens- Negotiations succeeded in bringing down the demand from

36 terrorists to 3- All remaining hostages safely brought back alive

“I am not a weak Prime Minister”“I am not a weak Prime Minister”

“We sent commandos to fight terrorists in Mumbai”“We sent commandos to fight terrorists in Mumbai”

“The BJP sent its External Affair Minister to surrender at Kandahar”“The BJP sent its External Affair Minister to surrender at Kandahar”

Congress-led UPA government has left many questions unanswered regarding its casual attitude towards the security of the country

Why is it soft on Bangladeshi infiltration?

Why is it soft on Bangladeshi infiltration?

Why was there no commission set up after 26/11?

Why was there no commission set up after 26/11?

What has it done to prevent the unprecedented terror attacks in

the last 5 years?

What has it done to prevent the unprecedented terror attacks in

the last 5 years?

Why did it oppose POTA?Why did it oppose POTA?

• Vajpayee Govt. introduced POTA to fight against terror which was vehemently opposed by Congress

• Congress removed POTA in 2004, when it came to power.

• Most countries including USA have tough anti-terror laws like POTA

• Bangladeshi infiltration has been called an ‘external aggression’ by Supreme Court

• Congress opposed the law that could have been effective in deporting infiltrators

• More than 67 bomb-blasts in the last 5 years

• No tough laws to prevent terror in the name of vote-bank politics

• Government has still not come out with a neutral report on 26/11

• Public sentiments have been completely ignored