The Enigmatic Red Bag: Inside the Kandahar Hijack

IC-814 was hijacked on December 24, 1999, and ended with India releasing three terrorists. Ajit Doval, now National Security Advisor, was informed of a 'New Year gift' left behind – a mysterious red bag. A.R. Ghanashyam reveals details of the ordeal and how the red bag, containing explosives, was eventually discovered.

On December 24, 1999, flight IC-814 was hijacked, an event that culminated with the Indian government releasing three terrorists in exchange for hostages. Ajit Doval, now National Security Advisor, was cryptically informed about a 'New Year gift' left on the aircraft—a red bag.

A.R. Ghanashyam, then in Islamabad, provides a firsthand account of the tense negotiations in Kandahar in a chapter of his wife Ruchi Ghanashyam's book, 'An Indian Woman in Islamabad'. The red bag, containing explosives and possibly real passports, was forgotten by the hijackers.

Years later, the mystery surrounding the red bag was resolved when U.S. authorities arrested Taliban foreign minister Wakil Ahmad Muttavakil. Despite delays, the aircraft eventually refueled and took off on January 1, 2000. This account sheds light on one of India's gravest hijacking episodes.

(With inputs from agencies.)