National Geographic has produced a documentary about the hijacking of Indian Air 814 which happened on Christmas Eve, 1999. The hijacked aircraft was flown around the Middle East, made three emergency landings and was ultimately taken to Kandahar, Afghanistan where the Taliban took control of the situation.

Passenger Rupin Katyal, who was on his honeymoon, was killed during the ordeal. Two other passengers were stabbed but survived their injuries.

The documentary is up on You Tube in five parts.

I have written previously about the hijacking here and here and have interviewed Dr. Jeanne Moore, the only American on the flight.   

India's former Foreign Affairs Chief, Jaswant Singh, calls the hijacking of Indian Air 814 a "dry run" for the terrorist attacks of 9/11. 

Singh led the negotiations with the Taliban and the Pakistani terrorists which resulted in a prisoner-for-hostage exchange. After the hijackers killed passenger Katyal, the 166 remaining passengers were swapped for convicted terrorists Omar Sheikh, Maulana Masood Azhar and Mushtaq Ahmed Zagar. All three men were being held in Indian prisons.

Omar Sheikh has since been sentenced to death by a Pakastani court for his role in the kidnapping and slaying of Wall Street Journal reporter Daniel Pearl.

The hijacking of Indian Air 814 is a key to understanding the origins of the nexus of terror between Al Qaeda, Pakistani terrorists, the Taliban and Pakistan's ISI. The collaborative efforts of these terrorist groups and their state sponsors continues today.

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