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Hijacking Episode ...

Dear Sir,
I whole heartedly agree with your editorial artcile about bungle in Amritsar. I fail to understand why we have such a powerless leadership in our country. Our NSG should have seized the Amritsar oppurtunity to gain upper hand on the hijackers. If the "War Book" said they should be ready in 30 minutes, whom should a law abiding, tax paying Indian Citizen go to ask for the reason for inaction even after 120 minutes ?
Even if we did a mistake in Amritsar, what are we doing without sending a representative to Kandahar for 2 full days ? This shows how useless is our country's leadership when it comes to protecting the country. If these people cannot get their act together when facing 5 terrorists, how can we trust them protect us when a big enemy attackes us ?
I hope all the remaining passengers get released safely.
Vijay, USA

Dear Sir,
The recent hijacking of the IA flight 814 and the pavid response of the government to it have exposed the ghoulish ineptitude of the consular and security staff in both Nepal and Indian Airlines. It strains credulity that a handful of hijackers should have come from Pakistan in a PIA flight to Kathmandu, waited in the transit lounge for hours, and then boarded the IA flight with weapons and bombs, and we dont know their identity. Aren't visas any longer required to pass between Pakistan, and Nepal and India? Don't visa applications require copies of photographs? As the government footles around, we hear news of two former hijackers offering consultation to the government! Shouldn't these two be in prison? The crisis management has apparently run out of depths to plumb with the experience accumulated from sixteen or so previous hijackings not amounting to much. It was a huge blunder not to have impounded the flight at Amritsar and dealt with the hijackers. It reflects poorly on the crisis management. All our prayers are with the hostages.
Sincerely Yours,
Ganesh S. Krishnan, USA

Sir,
Why should we blame the Nepalese for IA hijacking.Our security at airports are pathetic. Anyone can do anything on Indian airports.The officials have no training and they dont know what to look for. High officials should not interfere with duty officers in their duties which affects their complacency. Nobody cares attitude should be stopped. Each and everyone should be vigilant including passengers.
G.Prasad.Illinois,USA

Sir,
The hijacking incident is yet another Pak propaganda to promote itself. It hijacked the plane and some headlines in Pak newspapers like Jang and Dawn suggest that the hijacking was orchestrated by India. It is clear that by diverting the plane to Kandhahar, the hijackers can get fresh supply of ammunition and guns from Taliban or even get replaced by fresh men (who knows what is in that food packets that were supplied to hijackers, guns?) and then this whole drama that the hijackers are demanding political asylum and Taliban refusing it. Taliban and ISI agents are involved in this hijacking. What surprises me is that not one Indian paper is daring enough to suggest these points. Now, they may either kill all people (which is very unlikely) or we may have to release the hijackers. Taliban may let go the hijackers. The most likely scenario is that Pak and Taliban will tell their men to release passengers and they will claim they did a good job and will get international goodwill. We goofed up at Amritsar where we should have stormed the plane. Now we have to pay a heavy price.
Sanjay

Sir,
I am a 9 year old Indian boy living in New Zealand.I have been following all the news about the IA hijacking on the net becasuse we dont have Indian TV. I am very proud of the pilot and crew members who had so much of patience. I feel very very sorry for the passengers who are going through this miserable time. I, and all my friends, hate the hijackers.We pray and hope the people to come out safe and sound from the plane. Please tell all the family members that we are praying for them.
love to all
Rahul Mukund

Sir,
Why was the plane allowed to takeoff from amritsar? Why was the commando unit not called when innocent people were being murdered? Were they too busy protecting so-called "VIPs" or was the Indian government asleep at the helm, as usual? The minister and the bureacrats of civil aviation ministry along with officials of the crisis management group should resign immidiately. If they are shameless they should be fired immidiately.
Sudhanshu Prasad, N J (USA)

Sir,
I read with dismay the oft repeated story of "Indian Incompetence" and the faliure of the Indian Government, with all its resources, to secure control of the situation when the aircraft was in India.
What ever the outcome, both within India and the outside world would have praised the Govt. for standing up against these cowards and more importantly, given that there were foreign nationals aboard, ensured that India's attempt to bring the issue of terrorism would have also received a filip.
How the terrorists managed to get aboard with so many weapons is ofcourse worrying but for all practicle purposes this is not the area that should concern the decision makers.
The main thrust must be to declare to all organisations who prefer to use terror to further their aims that the Indian Government and indeed the Indian Peoples will never negotiate or tolerate such demands.
The British Government, using exactly this stance, has avoided the threat to its airlines. Remember, the UK has a much higher international profile than India.
Regards,
Madhav Agate