`US played key role in resolving crisis'

`US played key role in resolving crisis'
HARISH GUPTA

NEW DELHI, DEC 31: India on Friday officially acknowledged that Washington played "a key role" in resolving the hijack crisis in the "best interests of the country and the safety of the 155 innocent hostages" of IC-814.

Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister Brajesh Mishra told The Indian Express that the release of three militants was "the best deal" under the circumstances. "We are paying the price for terrorism," Mishra said, adding: "If seven militants could be released for one Rubiya, what's wrong in releasing three for 170?"

In reply to a question, he said that the option before the Government was to release three militants or collect 170 bodies with the wreckage of the aircraft.

Mishra blamed Pakistan for not playing a "positive role" in the entire crisis and making "all sorts of unfounded allegations to vitiate the atmosphere".

He said that the US had talked to Pakistan and the Taliban and the help of Saudi Arabia was also sought to resolve the crisis. Minutes before the meeting of theUnion Cabinet on Friday evening, Mishra said that the breakthrough came on Thursday night when the hijackers scaled down their demands from releasing 36 militants to three: Moulana Masood Azhar, Ahmed Omar Sayeed Sheikh and Mushtaq Zagrar.

"The talks were deadlocked. Finally, the word came that they would like Azhar and two more of their choice," Mishra said and added, "We agreed to release only three militants in lieu of 170 lives. None of the hostages was any relative of any minister."

"We are always wiser after the event," said Mishra. "We would have been blamed for bungling at Amritsar had there been a mishap leading to the killing of the passengers and damage to the aircraft."

He added: "We have to learn a lesson. We have to establish that we are not a soft state. But it must be remembered that the hijacking did not take place from any of the Indian airports."

He made it clear that there was no "backdoor deal" either with the Taliban or the hijackers. And that there was no question of eitherrecognising the Taliban or opening a culture centre or giving them money as was demanded by the hijackers.

Mishra said that India was not the first country to accept such a demand. Washington had given millions of dollars to get its hostages released and Israel let off 31 terrorists to get their hostages back.

He said that Opposition parties had also given the mandate to the Government to ensure the passengers safety and keep the overall national interests. "We have achieved both," he declared.

When pointed out that US President Bill Clinton spoke about Kashmir being the "flash point", Mishra said the interview was recorded before the hijacking. He thanked US and all those who helped the country in whittling down the excessive demands.