UN coordinator warns possibility of a violent
end to hijacking

ISLAMABAD, Dec 29: Eric De Mul, UN coordinator for Afghanistan, today warned of a possibility of a violent end to the hijacking of the Indian Airlines aircraft if the deadlock in the negotiations continued and said there has to be some sort of compromise to end the six-day-old crisis.

De Mul, who returned here yesterday after talking with the hijackers for three days and is again rushing there tomorrow, told reporters in the Pakistani capital that the hijackers seemed to be quite "committed" and "prepared".

The hijackers holding 154 passengers and crew as hostage at Kandahar yesterday demanded release of 36 Kashmiri militants, including Pakistani cleric Maulana Masood Azhar, and a ransom of 200 million dollars. The Indian Government has conveyed its appropriate response to the hijackers.

Responding to a question whether the episode could meet a violent end in view of the continued deadlock, De Mul said at this stage it is very difficult to rule out anything.

One has to proceed with many different scenarios, even rather violent scenario....The people (hijackers) seem to be quite committed. They also seem to have prepared themselves for possibility that this may go on for quite some time, he said.

He referred to the killing of Rupen Katyal by the hijackers and said if that was an indication it could happen again.

Mul also hinted at the possibility of Taliban authorities storming the plane to free the hostages. The pressure on them (Talibans) is enormous because it is happening in their territory and they are taking it seriously.

They (Talibans) have time and again said that they are responsible for the safety and security of the people inside the plane.

Asked if the Talibans can force the hijackers to fly out of Afghanistan, the UN official said that stage has not reached yet as the negotiations between the hijackers and the Indian officials were continuing.

He referred to the demands of the hijackers and said these were quite strong and may make the negotiations by the Indian officials very difficult.

Stating that there has to be some compromise, De Mul said negotiation is something which involves some give and take.

De Mul had a lot of praise for Taliban authorities for handling the crisis with all sincerity.

An AP report from Kandahar, meanwhile quoted an Indian official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, as saying so far there have been no dramatic developments.

Taliban Foreign Minister Wakil Ahmed Muttawakil said the hijackers have rejected their plea to release women, children and sick hostages.

We know there are some people who are in bad condition...We have asked them to let the sick, the women and children off the plane, but they have refused, Wakil said.

TheInternational Red Cross and UN have erected emergency medical tents near the aircraft to be ready when the ordeal ends and passengers are released, said their representatives at the airport.

Medicines from the International Red Cross has been given to a passenger who is a doctor. The medicine includes painkillers and heart medicine. (PTI)

UN official hopes for ‘early success’

ISLAMABAD, Dec 29: United Nations coordinator for Afghanistan Eric De Mul today expressed optimism of an "early success" in resolving the hijacking imbroglio, saying that the Indian team "seems to be an experienced one in negotiating".

Mr Mul has been a key figure in the developments at the Kandahar airport ever since the hijacked Indian Airliner IC-814 landed a there fourdays ago.

"The negotiations (with the hijackers on board the plane) are being held through walkie-talkie. Four such rounds have been over now. However, I cannot speculate about a timeframe (for the stalemate to end) as the dialogue is continuing," he toldreportsn here.

The UN official said the hijackers spoke English and Urdu, at the same breath added that their identification could only be made only by those who have been in direct dialogue with them. "I would not speculate on that."

Replying to a query about the demands by the hijackers, Mr Mul said their demands have been conveyed to the Indian authorities through different channels.

Asked if India was ready to accept their demands, Mr Mul said it was not for him to comment on that. "One could not exclude the possibility of some untoward incident. But the good news is that the hijackers yesterday morning allowed supply of water and food in the plane. This they had refused earlier."

Asked about the possibility of storming the plane, Mr Mul said the Taliban had troops and weapons to do it if the situation warranted.

About the mood inside the plane, he said it was difficult to exactly assess the condition of the passengers. "I guess the occupants are tired and exhausted. However, they are being fed properly since Monday."

Mr Mul appreciated the role of Taliban in handling the situation. "They have been very cooperative, and want to see a quick end to the hijacking as they have already taken the stance not to allow any untoward incident on their territory."

He said the UN has been cooperating with the Taliban in providing food, medicines and other facilites for the stranded passenges.

"The facilities at Kandahar airport are limited and only a group of Taliban are involved to handle the situation. We (UN) have even made prior arrangements including shelter in the event of the pasengers needing them if there was some breakthrough," he added. (UNI)

Hostages on hijacked plane calm, says airport official

KANDAHAR, Dec 29: The hostages being held on the Indian Airlines plane here appear to be holding up well, according to an airport employee who went aboard overnight to supervise cleaning.

The atmosphere inside the plane was relaxed and free of tension, Airport Manager Haji Rehmatullah told AFP today.

He went inside the plane late yesterday with three Afghan workers who removed trash from the aircraft, on which 154 people are being held hostage.

Rehmatullah said there were five masked hijackers on the plane. They spoke in urdu and wore shirts and trousers.

Two hijackers were inside the cockpit while three others armed with pistols and hand grenades watched the seated hostages, he said.

The hijackers were seen sharing jokes with the pilots, Rehmatullah said while adding, I saw no casualties.

The gunmen’s leader, who called himself Ibrahim, was inside the cockpit, he added.

Taliban worker H9amiddullah said the floor of the plane was littered with waste and there was a powerful stench from the toilets.

But he added, there was no panic among the passengers and the atmosphere was relaxed. Some played cards and chess while others read books or magazines, he said.

Children aged between 8 and 12 were asleep but most of the adult passengers and crew were awake, he said. (AFP)

Kashmir most dangerous issue in world: Clinton

WASHINGTON, Dec 29: US President Bill Clinton has described the Kashmir issue as perhaps the most dangerous one in the world right now.

We still have to deal with these traditional threats. That is why India and Pakistan is perhaps ... The Kashmir issue is perhaps the most dangerous one in the world today because you’ve got two nuclear powers there who are somewhat uncertain about one another and (that is) why we have to work hard to avoid that, he said yesterday.

Clinton referred to the Kashmir issue on cbs television’s 60-minutes programme in response to a question about the alarming potential of science to do harm. (PTI)

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