Kandahar Hijack: Mystery of Briefcase & Bags Revealed

Kandahar Hijack: The Mystery of the Black Briefcase and Red Bags

The 1999 hijacking of Indian Airlines flight IC 814 remains one of the most enigmatic events in aviation history. Despite extensive coverage, several aspects of the incident continue to baffle experts, particularly the mystery surrounding a black briefcase and two red bags.

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The 1999 Hijacking Incident

Flight IC 814 was hijacked on December 24, 1999, shortly after entering Indian airspace. The plane, which was en route from Kathmandu to Delhi, had 191 passengers and crew members on board. Five terrorists commandeered the aircraft, demanding that it be flown to Kabul. When refueling in Lahore was denied, the hijackers diverted the plane to Amritsar. After a brief delay, the aircraft was refueled in Dubai, where 27 hostages, including the murdered Rupin Katyal, were released. The plane was then flown to Kandahar in Taliban-controlled Afghanistan, where it remained for six more days.

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The Red Bags

Two red bags played significant roles during the hijacking. One red bag, reportedly containing explosives, was checked into the cargo hold at Kathmandu’s International Airport. The nature of the explosives—whether RDX or grenades—remains officially unknown, though former Foreign Minister Jaswant Singh attempted to clarify this in his book, “In Service of Emergent India – A Call to Honor.”

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The second red bag was carried by Jaswant Singh, who was accompanying the three terrorists to Kandahar. The Congress party demanded a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) probe into its contents, speculating it might contain the $200 million ransom. Singh has denied this claim, asserting that the Indian government did not meet the ransom demand.

The Black Briefcase

Accompanying Singh was a black briefcase, which reportedly contained $100,000 in cash. This money was intended to cover refueling expenses in Kandahar. The cash amount was greater than the estimated $40,000 required, providing a buffer for unexpected costs. The briefcase’s contents were revealed in a report by journalist Sunetra Choudhury, who also highlighted the dire conditions faced by the IC 814 passengers during the hijacking.

Continued Mysteries

The black briefcase and red bags are integral to understanding the IC 814 hijacking. Despite numerous investigations and publications, the exact contents and significance of these items remain partially unresolved. Jaswant Singh’s accounts suggest that one of the red bags contained explosives, possibly RDX or grenades. However, these details, combined with the ongoing uncertainty about the ransom, contribute to the enduring enigma of the 1999 hijacking.

As the world reflects on the 25th anniversary of this tragic event, the mysteries of the black briefcase and red bags continue to intrigue and perplex.

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