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In a written reply to a question, External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee said the matter was being pursued with the Pakistan government, including through the joint anti-terrorism mechanism and the Home Secretary-level talks on terrorism under the composite dialogue.
Five terrorists hijacked the plane during flight from Kathmandu to New Delhi on December 24,1999.
The aircraft, with 157 people on board, was commandeered to Kandahar in Afghanistan and the hostage crisis ended after seven days when India released three hardcore terrorists, all of whom went to Pakistan.
The freed militants included Masood Azhar, who later founded the Jaish-e-Mohammad terrorist outfit.

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As the tiger never changes it stripes, despite India's best reconciliatory efforts, even allowing more and more concessions to Pakistan, Pakistan shall never reciprocate India's good gesture. As an example, the long list submitted by India to Pakistan of terrorists including the king-pin Dawood Ibrahim who are being sheltered by Paksitan, Pakistan is just refusing to respond to India'request. Now for the release of Sarabjeeet Singh who is on a death- row in Pakistan, Pakistan may demand release of all Pakistani prisoners including Afzal Guru in exchange. Therefore, it is the need of the hour to adopt tit-for-tat policy towards Pakistan in settling prisoners exchange issue.
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