In 1981, Pakistan had helped India by freeing hostages captured by Khalistani hijackers

Indian Airlines plane IC-423 from Delhi to Srinagar was hijacked by 5 Khalistani leaders and diverted to Pakistan's Lahore in 1981. With the construction of Kartarpur Corridor, Indian authorities have been concerned over reports of Pakistan-based groups planning to stoke pro-Khalistan sentiments among Sikh pilgrims. Indian authorities have raised concern with Pakistan over possible anti-India activities after the opening of Kartarpur corridor. India has often blamed Pakistan of backing pro-Khalistani militants against India

New Delhi: The construction of the Kartarpur Corridor for the easy access of Indian pilgrims to visit Gurdwara Kartarpur Sahib in Pakistan has raised security concerns in the Indian establishment. The attempts by certain organisations in the neighbouring country to stoke pro-Khalistan sentiments among Sikh pilgrims from India is not lost on the Indian government.

On Sunday, the Ministry of External Affairs said in a statement that India had submitted a dossier to the Pakistan officials during the second bilateral meeting on Kartarpur corridor at Wagah in connection with this matter.

The dossier highlighted reports that Pakistan-based organisations or individuals may attempt to “disrupt the pilgrimage and misuse the opportunity to play with the sentiments of the pilgrims."

The statement added that Pakistan has assured India that “no anti-India activities” would be allowed inside its territories.

A few days ago, Times Now had accessed an intelligence report that warned of militants based in Pakistan planning to sabotage the Kartarpur pilgrimage by stoking anti-India and pro-Khalistan militants among the Sikh pilgrims from the country.

The report purportedly cautioned Indian authorities that Pakistan’s intelligence agency ISI could attempt to radicalise the Sikh youth who may travel to Pakistan via Kartarpur corridor to offer prayers at the holy shrine. The report also noted that the opening of Kartarpur corridor could expose the border to a serious "security threat."

For decades, India has accused Pakistan of directly or indirectly backing the individuals from the Sikh community who have demanded the formation of Khalistan – a separate Sikh-dominated country carved out of India – in a bid to usher in internal instability in the country.

The neighbouring country has often denied any involvement with the Khalistan secessionist movement but Indian authorities have always been on the guard regarding Pakistan’s intention in connection with the Khalistan issue.

However, there was one incident when Pakistan had lent India its crucial support in fighting the Khalistani militants who had held Indian travellers hostage after hijacking an Indian Airlines flight in 1981.

1981 Indian Airlines Plane Hijack: When Pakistan Fought Khalistani Militants For India 

What Is The Case About?

On the morning of September 30, 1981, five Sikh separatists leaders hijacked an Indian Airlines flight IC 423 flying from New Delhi to Srinagar via Amritsar, with 111 passengers on board.

The hijackers took control of the cockpit and forced the plane to divert to Pakistan and land at Lahore airport.

After the plane landed at Lahore, the five hijackers - Tejinder, Satnam, Gajendar Singh, Karan SinghKini and Jasmir Singh Jima - released all but 45 passengers from the aircraft.

However, they refused to free the hostages till the Indian government released Sikh separatist leaders, including Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale, all of whom were lodged in Indian jails at that time.

How Did The Sikh Separatists Hijack The Plane?

The hijackers were reportedly armed with nothing but a Kirpan - a small knife that Sikhs carry with them as an article of faith – and a fruit wrapped in cloth which they used to scare the passengers by purportedly calling it a bomb.

One of the hijackers, Tajinder Pal Singh recounted to a news portal how the hijacking was executed.

Soon after the take-off, Gajendra Singh and Jasbir Singh stood next to the toilet near the cockpit and just when the air hostess entered the cockpit to give tea to the pilots, the duo barged inside. At the same time, Tajinder, Satnam and Karan stood in the aisle and screamed "Khalistan Zindabad,” Tajinder told the news portal.

When the plane was successfully diverted to Lahore, the hijackers demanded that Bhindranwale and his associates - who had been arrested three days before the hijacking of the plane - to be released immediately. They also demanded $5,00,000 in cash.

How Did Pakistan Help India?

With the lives of Indian passengers at stake, senior officials in New Delhi established direct contacts with their Pakistani counterparts and sought their help in securing the release of the hostages and capturing the hijackers, a US daily had reported at the time of the incident.

According to the report, spokesman for the Pakistani Embassy, Munir Sheik had said that the Pakistan government had "willingly acceded to India's request that it act to ensure the safety of the passengers and protect the plane."

Members of Pakistan’s security forces entered the plane disguised as maintenance workers and quickly overpowered the hijackers, who were later arrested, while the rest of the hostages were released.

Pakistan refused to hand over the militants to India and took them "in custody". Reports also claimed that Pakistan allowed the hijackers to live at Nankana Sahib Gurdwara before prosecuting them.

Two of the hijackers - Tajinder and Satnam - eventually served life-term in a Pakistani jail for hijacking the plane and were finally deported to India in 2000.

However, Gajendra Singh, who allegedly trained several Sikh militants as well as Kashmiri militants to execute terror attacks in India, was never returned to India by Pakistan.