A hijacked Indian Airlines plane carrying as many as 161 people landed in southern Afghanistan yesterday, the second day of a terrifying journey of landings and takeoffs that snaked across South Asia and into the Middle East.
The goals of the hijackers, who along the way released 27 hostages and the body of a dead man, is still unclear. United Arab Emirates Brigadier Atiq Juma said two of the hijackers were Sikhs, though he did not specify how that was known.
The hijackers -- reportedly armed with grenades, pistols and knives -- seized the plane about 40 minutes after it took off from Nepal heading for New Delhi on Friday. It stopped in India, Pakistan, and the UAE and was refused landing at several airports before making its latest stop in Kandahar.
"The Indian authorities have been in touch with our embassy and said please allow the plane to land in Kandahar. The pilot is very tired, they told us," Wakil Ahmed Muttawakil, a Taliban spokesman, said. He denied reports that the hijackers have asked for asylum in Afghanistan.
Some requests have been met, but Muttawakil said the Taliban want the aircraft to leave Afghanistan "as soon as possible."
The Taliban refused to meet the hijackers and instead told them "we have given you food and fuel and the best thing for you is to leave Afghanistan as soon as possible," said a control tower official.
According to Pakistan Television, the hijackers threatened to blow up the aircraft if they were not allowed to remain in Afghanistan.
Speaking on condition he not be identified, an Indian official said India has asked the Taliban to try to end the hijacking, but not at the risk of the passengers.
The UN also has contacted the Taliban seeking information, said Muttawakil and offering to assist in negotiations with the hijackers.
In neighboring Pakistan where the aircraft landed on Friday, security has been tightened at airports throughout the country, said local authorities, who fear the pilot may try to land the plane in Pakistan if he is forced to leave Afghanistan. Pakistan authorities say they do not want the aircraft to return to Pakistan. Security also has been tightened at airports in Iran.
A group called the Islamic Salvation Front has taken responsibility for the hijacking and has reportedly asked for the release of two imprisoned Kashmiris, involved in a bloody secessionist movement in Indian-ruled Kashmir.
But a Lashkar-e-Tayyaba spokesman Abdullah Mutazir denied any involvement in the hijacking and said "if any one of the hijackers say they are members of our group it is a lie. We condemn this hijacking and accuse India of propaganda against us."
The plane was carrying 189 passengers when it took off. While the plane was refueling in the Emirates, the hijackers released 27 hostages and the dead body.
Hong Kong-based Star TV identified the dead man as a 25-year-old who was honeymooning in Nepal.
CARROT AND STICK: While unrelenting in its military threats, China attracted nearly 40,000 Taiwanese to over 400 business events last year Nearly 40,000 Taiwanese last year joined industry events in China, such as conferences and trade fairs, supported by the Chinese government, a study showed yesterday, as Beijing ramps up a charm offensive toward Taipei alongside military pressure. China has long taken a carrot-and-stick approach to Taiwan, threatening it with the prospect of military action while reaching out to those it believes are amenable to Beijing’s point of view. Taiwanese security officials are wary of what they see as Beijing’s influence campaigns to sway public opinion after Taipei and Beijing gradually resumed travel links halted by the COVID-19 pandemic, but the scale of
TRADE: A mandatory declaration of origin for manufactured goods bound for the US is to take effect on May 7 to block China from exploiting Taiwan’s trade channels All products manufactured in Taiwan and exported to the US must include a signed declaration of origin starting on May 7, the Bureau of Foreign Trade announced yesterday. US President Donald Trump on April 2 imposed a 32 percent tariff on imports from Taiwan, but one week later announced a 90-day pause on its implementation. However, a universal 10 percent tariff was immediately applied to most imports from around the world. On April 12, the Trump administration further exempted computers, smartphones and semiconductors from the new tariffs. In response, President William Lai’s (賴清德) administration has introduced a series of countermeasures to support affected
MORE VISITORS: The Tourism Administration said that it is seeing positive prospects in its efforts to expand the tourism market in North America and Europe Taiwan has been ranked as the cheapest place in the world to travel to this year, based on a list recommended by NerdWallet. The San Francisco-based personal finance company said that Taiwan topped the list of 16 nations it chose for budget travelers because US tourists do not need visas and travelers can easily have a good meal for less than US$10. A bus ride in Taipei costs just under US$0.50, while subway rides start at US$0.60, the firm said, adding that public transportation in Taiwan is easy to navigate. The firm also called Taiwan a “food lover’s paradise,” citing inexpensive breakfast stalls
Pope Francis is be laid to rest on Saturday after lying in state for three days in St Peter’s Basilica, where the faithful are expected to flock to pay their respects to history’s first Latin American pontiff. The cardinals met yesterday in the Vatican’s synod hall to chart the next steps before a conclave begins to choose Francis’ successor, as condolences poured in from around the world. According to current norms, the conclave must begin between May 5 and 10. The cardinals set the funeral for Saturday at 10am in St Peter’s Square, to be celebrated by the dean of the College
RSS