The Netflix series IC 814: The Kandahar Hijack, directed by Anubhav Sinha, aims to depict the infamous 1999 hijacking of an Indian Airlines flight from Kathmandu to New Delhi. The incident, which involved a week-long negotiation and the release of three dreaded terrorists, including Masood Azhar, has sparked heated debate since the series began streaming. Several claims made in the show, particularly around the role of Indian intelligence, have been challenged by those involved in the actual events. Former RAW Chief AS Dulat and former Special Secretary Anand Arni have come forward to address inaccuracies portrayed in the series.
RAW chief AS Dulat REFUTES claims made in Netflix’s IC 814: The Kandahar Hijack: “We had no warning at all”
“We Had No Warning” – Dulat Refutes Claims of Intelligence Failure
One of the central claims in IC 814: The Kandahar Hijack is that Indian intelligence had prior knowledge of a possible hijacking but failed to act in time. In an interview with The Print, AS Dulat categorically denied this, stating, “We had no warning at all.” Dulat firmly rejected the notion that the intelligence community had any foreknowledge, calling it a fabrication. “There was no reason for the station head to sit on information like this. This is all just imagination,” he told the publication.
Supporting Dulat’s account, Anand Arni, who also held a senior position in RAW at the time, explained the complexities of intelligence gathering. “There are 100 prompts that come out of our intelligence network, and they might have even said that a certain ISI station is active. But there were no active and direct warnings of a possible hijack,” he told the publication.
Disputed Source of Information on Hijacking
Anand Arni further attempted to trace the origin of the claims made in the Netflix series. “I think there was an article or a book written by someone who used to be with the agency in the 70s. This person was relieved in the 80s, and he had no access to the documents or even the building. He wasn’t active during the 90s at all,” said Arni, casting doubt on the reliability of the information the show appears to be based on.
Media Coverage vs Intelligence Response
Another significant point of contention in IC 814: The Kandahar Hijack is the portrayal of how Indian intelligence learned about the hijacking. The series suggests that the intelligence agency was caught off guard and learned about the situation through media reports, causing them to scramble. Arni refuted this, clarifying that while the media may have been reporting the story, RAW had already initiated its response.
“The agency picked it alongside the media, and they had a control room set up almost immediately,” Arni explained. Dulat corroborated this, recounting how he was called to a Crisis Management Group (CMG) meeting shortly after the hijacking was confirmed. “An officer rushed in and asked me to come to the CMG meeting. I left immediately. A few joined later. They were all there within 20 minutes,” Dulat said, stating the swift response of the intelligence agencies.
The Question of RDX and the Taliban’s Role
The Netflix series also explores the theory that RDX was smuggled onto the hijacked aircraft, with the Taliban allegedly searching for a red suitcase containing the explosives. Arni refuted this claim, stating that RAW had no prior knowledge of any RDX being aboard the aircraft. “We didn’t know anything about RDX on the aircraft,” he said. While there were reports of the Taliban searching the plane, Arni added that even JRD Rao, Joint Managing Director of Air India, was unsure about what they were actually looking for.
Dulat confirmed Arni’s version, noting that the focus was on resolving the situation as quickly as possible. “Yeah, the RDX story did float around, but we didn’t know anything about it. We just wanted to finish it and get done with the ordeal,” Dulat said.
Conclusion: Addressing the IC 814 Controversy
The Netflix series IC 814: The Kandahar Hijack has stirred significant controversy due to its portrayal of one of India’s most notorious hijacking incidents. Former RAW officials AS Dulat and Anand Arni have strongly refuted the claims made in the show, particularly regarding the intelligence community’s knowledge and response to the event.
Also Read: Kapil Sharma postponed America tour, encouraged Rajiv Thakur to give dates to IC 814: The Kandahar Hijack: “You do the series, we’ll push the show”
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