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01x04 - Episode 4

Episode transcripts for the TV show, "IC 814: The Kandahar Hijack". Aired: August 29, 2024.*
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Indian Airlines flight hijacked en route Kathmandu-Delhi on Dec 24, 1999, diverting to Kandahar under Taliban control.

01x04 - Episode 4

Post by bunniefuu »

A Sheikh from Dubai is standing behind me.

He's a man who keeps his word.

We try to be good Muslims.

Now you'll teach us how

to be good Muslims?

Are you an Indian?

In the Holy Quran, Almighty Allah says,

"k*ll one innocent,

you k*ll all humanity."

"Save the life of one innocent,

you save all humanity."

I'm from Pakistan.

Only women and children.

Women and children only.

Come on. Let's go.

Come on.

-Careful, ma'am.

-You too.

Where are you taking everyone?

-I can't tell you.

-Is my husband going?

No men are leaving.

Only women and children.

I'm not going without my family.

-Just sit down.

-My husband…

We'll send you later. Sit down. Not now.

Move along.

Hurry up!

Keep moving.

One by one. Come on.

My son!

-He's on the plane.

-Keep moving. He'll join you.

Hurry up.

Please, let him go.

His cylinder's nearly empty.

Go with them, if you want to.

Get some medical help.

Is an exchange possible?

Send someone else in my place.

Son, where is your mother?

Lakshmi, come here.

Sit with him. His mother may be

at the back or up ahead. I'll check.

You hurt him.

-He's dead.

-How do you know?

He's dead.

You know what?

It's your privilege

to still think death is a tragedy.

Sir.

Your son got left behind.

Sit down, dear.

Thank you.

Believe me,

I had no idea this hijack was about me.

200 innocent lives are held to ransom…

Same in our country.

All of Afghanistan is held c*ptive.

Palestine too.

And you're…

pleading for 200 people.

They've slit two men's throats.

One is dead.

Take time off and come with me, Mr. Mehta.

I'll show you what slit throats look like.

The perpetrators must be punished, right?

That's why you're locked in here.

You taught people how to slay innocents.

This is w*r, Mr. Mehta.

-People die in wars…

-No!

This is not a w*r.

Whatever it is,

we will stop it.

Stop it.

By God, stop it then.

There's been enough bloodshed.

The NSG team

did get to the airport in time.

The Captain made a big mistake.

He should've waited longer in Amritsar.

We have been informed Captain Sharan

must face a special inquiry.

Poor pilot.

There's "poor us" too.

Sir, tea or coffee?

-Tea.

-Yes, sir.

Tea for me, too.

My tummy aches.

Don't you prefer coffee?

People in the South…

If there's a choice between bad tea

and bad coffee,

I prefer bad tea.

Coffee is like a religion, sir.

There's no place for misinterpretation.

And tea is like blind faith.

Good or bad. Tea is tea!

Why is the Taliban even accepting

this flight?

The Taliban's founder, Mullah Omar,

took power in Afghanistan in 1996.

He was declared Afghanistan's leader.

He gave himself

the title "Amir al-Mu'minin."

Commander of the faithful.

Mullah Omar's dream

was to establish an Islamic emirate

along with other Islamic countries

that the world would recognize.

But the exact opposite happened.

Aware of the Taliban's violent

track record,

most other countries broke ties with them.

India, too, closed its Embassy in Kabul

and severed all relations

with Afghanistan.

Taliban. ISI. Cut from the same cloth.

What's "cut from the same cloth"?

One is exactly like the other.

They're like twin brothers.

I got it.

"Cut from the same cloth."

You're educated.

You speak English.

You must've gone to a good school.

As a matter of fact, Chhaya,

I never went to school.

I was this small…

The Whites had set up army camps

all over the country.

I used to sell tea to them,

and I would mimic them.

That's how I learned English.

Not all English-speaking people

are educated.

We have to land.

We're going to Kandahar.

Your phone's ringing. Answer it!

They must've left Dubai.

-Hello.

-Good morning, sir.

They've just left Dubai.

They're heading for Kandahar.

sh*t.

Have you told the boss?

No, let me talk to him.

IC 814, on final approach,

descend to 4000 feet.

Confirm landing gear down.

Wilco.

Eagle 456, proceed to Palam Airport

immediately.

There's a big crowd there.

Get the situation in control.

-Kirpal.

-Yes, sir.

Hurry, go inside

and find out what's going on.

It's almost 24 hours and you still

don't know where the flight is?

We've been standing here all night.

We have family on that flight.

Where did it go after Dubai?

Did the plane vanish?

Who's responsible

for the passengers? You are!

Follow him.

Everyone is requested to stay seated.

You can sit up now.

My name is Burger.

Two of my men are back there.

Shankar and Bhola.

If you need anything, ask them.

We have nothing against you, personally.

Just let us do our job

and we won't hurt you.

But if anyone…

I repeat,

if anyone makes any trouble,

remember,

we will not hesitate to harm you.

Any kind of harm.

It's the month of Ramadan.

We fast during this time.

But you haven't eaten all night,

so we've arranged food for you.

You may now use the washroom.

One by one.

No crowding in the aisles.

Food will arrive soon.

How they behave is your responsibility.

If they behave badly,

we too will behave badly.

The press is talking non-stop

about Afghanistan.

People will panic.

The Opposition will make a noise.

More pressure on the government.

Too much of democracy

in this country, sir.

We should maintain our stand about ISI.

-And the press?

-What about them?

If our official version

is that it's Pakistan,

they'll think it's Pakistan.

Pakistan sells. So why not?

Clear up, please.

-Let us do our job.

-Call PRO.

And let's have a joint meeting

with all the agencies.

Yes, right. Okay.

The Indian press

is after the pilot's blood.

What about the international press?

Thank you, sir.

It's all about Christmas.

Something about a millennium plot.

Al-Qaeda planning to attack America

on the 31st.

The plan suits their president.

And the hijack? Zero?

It's there.

A tiny column.

The western world

doesn't want to interfere

and the Middle East doesn't want to help.

But we've put pressure on the UN.

Taliban.

The pressure should be

on the Taliban as well.

-Who can we talk to in Afghanistan?

-I've already reached out.

-You have?

-Yeah.

I've spoken to Muttawakil,

who is the Foreign Minister of Taliban.

Thirty-two years of age. Knows English.

Very inexperienced.

But he's the bridge between Mullah Omar

and the rest of the world.

Hurry up.

Sit where you see an empty seat.

Captain, please get some rest.

I know it's hard.

But try to rest for a few hours.

You okay?

Business class is reserved

for them and us.

The front toilet to the right is ours,

the left is theirs.

Will they also decide the rules

on our plane?

The last of the coffee.

I mean, who knows

when we'll get any more, sir.

He was wearing a yellow

and white T-shirt. And glasses.

-I don't know.

-He went to the front.

Hurry up. Sit down.

Burger ji!

Where's my husband?

Your husband got down in Dubai.

How could he?

You should've let me go with him.

There wasn't time, so we sent him off.

I begged you to let me join him.

You're lying. He'd never leave

without me. I know him.

He's gone. Control her.

You're lying. He'd never leave

without me. I know him.

Rupesh.

Rupesh!

He's lying.

Rupesh!

He's lying.

Let me look for him. I'll come right back.

-No.

-Rupesh.

Stop the guy at the back.

Wait on board.

-Which of these are vegetarian?

-None.

Meaning?

Actually, let's take the meat out

and distribute the boxes.

Those who want to eat can eat,

the rest can wait.

But most of the passengers are vegetarian.

Burger! Most of the passengers

are vegetarian.

I know.

We've ordered vegetarian. It's coming.

-Take this. Careful.

-Okay, sir.

24 hours after flight IC 814 was hijacked

by unidentified hijackers,

the plane remains stranded

in Taliban-controlled Kandahar.

The government is yet to announce

whether it'll negotiate

with the hijackers or not.

We're now going live to Delhi

where the Prime Minister

is making his first public remarks

since the crisis began.

What do the hijackers want?

They haven't told us.

But whatever they want,

their methods are not the way

to get anything.

India…

will never bow before barbaric acts

like these, nor fear them.

The prime minister there issuing

a strong condemnation of the hijack.

After an all-cabinet meeting

in which it was decided India

will not negotiate with the hijackers.

We will not negotiate.

He's absolutely right.

We have a coalition government.

The other Parties must come forward too.

The PM should take a firm stand.

Sir, what if we don't negotiate?

We have to.

But a political consensus is a must too.

If all parties tell the PM

to negotiate with the hijackers,

then he will.

What shall we do till then?

Make all the preparations your end.

-I removed the meat patty.

-I know, but how am I supposed to…

You have to understand

the dire situation. Let them know too.

India's Prime Minister has refused

to negotiate with you.

I repeat.

India's Prime Minister has refused

to negotiate with you.

If their government

won't negotiate with us, so be it.

Tell the Taliban to refuel and we'll go.

We'll take the plane to Delhi

and crash it into their Parliament.

Doctor, I don't want to talk to them.

Let's go.

They think we'd wait forever.

We'll show them what we're capable of.

Sir, Muttawakil has agreed

to give them fuel.

We have time till tomorrow morning.

We'll find a way out by then.

So far the hijackers of IC 814

have not made any demands.

Nor has our government taken any steps

to free the stranded passengers on board.

However, last night in Dubai,

the hijackers released 27 women, children,

and with them the injured Balram Singh

and the mortal remains of Rupesh Singhvi

were also handed over.

Myself, my family, whole of my family,

is happy but not fully happy.

Because our other

country fellows are there,

and my second son-in-law is also there.

I'm here to defend

the Captain's reputation.

I object to what you're saying

about my husband.

The people who have been released,

I speak for them too,

and for the remaining hostages.

My husband will come back,

but only after he brings

everyone home safely.

They will come back. The question is…

All's well that ends well.

They will come back. This is sure.

Who gets shot first in a hijack, Nandini?

The Captain.

Who's hit by the first b*llet

in a commando operation?

The Captain.

He managed to land the plane

again and again. Who did that?

The plane was in Amritsar for 45 minutes,

why was nothing done?

If they won't negotiate, who suffers?

Our people!

If it was up to you, what would you do?

The real question is

why is this happening?

Why are 200 people made to suffer?

And, what now?

Of course we'll keep negotiating, DRS.

With all the foreign embassies,

especially with the Afghan government.

Diplomacy, boys.

The UN and the Red Cross…

why not tell them to fly to Kandahar

with the media?

Maybe that'll stop the Taliban

from giving them fuel.

That's a very good idea, Kumar.

Connect me to Erick de Mul.

He's very proactive.

Get him for me at the soonest.

Sir, tea. For you?

Ma'am, some tea?

-Give my children some.

-Yes, of course.

Fruit?

Sir, fruit?

Ma'am, some tea?

-You must drink, dear. Just a little.

-No.

Please. I request you. Have some tea.

Mister, let the ladies go first.

I've waited for four hours.

I'll be done in two minutes.

The toilet stinks.

They're your people.

It's up to you to control them.

Tell them to go early in the morning.

Not to crowd here.

It's your responsibility.

The toilets at the back are dirty.

Can we use the front?

No one goes to the front.

That's an order.

Are we stuck in a plane or a train?

I must go. My wife's in hospital.

Please understand.

I'll give them my life savings.

-All the money I have.

-Sir.

We can't let you.

Let me go.

I'll get a bus, train, anything.

Sir,

we're in Afghanistan. Kandahar.

We can't let you go.

Please, sir. It's stinking.

Wait! I've asked them.

Doctor said it's okay.

Everybody can go to the front toilet.

Away from this stink. Wait.

Except one.

Except one.

I'll tell you who.

The children have had no food

or water for 72 hours.

Let me go!

My brother is stuck on that plane.

Burger bhai, it stinks up here too.

Get it cleaned.

-The stench is unbearable.

-I'll do something.

Shut up!

I said I'd do something.

Back to your seats!

Bhola! Call Doctor.

Sure.

They say they can't eat or excrete.

What is it, Burger?

Doctor, shall we open the door?

Okay. Open it.

Why did you open it?

-What are you doing?

-Who said you could?

-Don't hit her.

-Shut up!

Just shut up!

I will not repeat myself!

Everyone, listen carefully.

No one does anything

without my permission.

Nothing at all.

You both included.

Don't do anything without asking me.

Get it?

You okay?

Come, Captain. You've rested long enough.

We're going back to Delhi.

The fuel has arrived.

The plane was airborne

for over 16 hours, Chief.

There's been no technical inspection,

no servicing.

-How can I fly…

-We'll crash, right?

So be it.

That's what we want. Let's go. Come.

Let's go.

Come.

Shall we jettison the fuel?

Sir… What?

At peak pressure?

No, sir. They'll k*ll us.

We're going to die anyway.

Once we take-off…

They're saying we're going to crash

into the Parliament.

-It's our only chance to avoid taking off.

-No, sir. We can't.

You saw them. They slit peoples' throats.

No, sir, please.

-Let's do it.

-No, sir. I'm sorry, sir…

It's an order. Sunil!

I'm extremely sorry, sir. I can't do it.

Forgive me. Please. Sorry.

I'm not a soldier, sir.

I have a family at home, sir.

Sorry, sir. I'm extremely sorry.

You okay?

Sir.

What happened?

Are you okay, sir?

Refueling started.

Sir, is everything okay?

Twenty-five percent.

Friends.

We'll be taking off soon.

We have tried and are still trying

not to hurt you.

You should know that

your government has refused

to negotiate with us.

Fifty percent.

Seventy percent.

Pressure peak.

All good?

What's good?

They don't know how to refuel properly.

The pressure is too high.

The tank might explode.

If this is one of your tricks,

it'll be your last.

Tank almost full.

Now, sir.

-No!

-What did you guys do?

Move!

What the f*ck did you do? What did you do?

Did the Captain do it?

No, sir.

f*ck!

If I find you and your team

plotting again,

I'll throw you out.

You know what they'll do to you.

Clear off! Move!

Get out!

I'm really sorry, sir.

Nangia sir, I'm really sorry.

Sorry, sir.

Look. Our people are here to negotiate.

We won't need to crash the plane.

It's a United Nation's plane

sent by your government.

They've sent the press

to keep an eye on us.

Why did they allow them here?

No pictures! No one's coming near us.

Why has no decision been taken?

A UN delegation has reached Kandahar.

I am hopeful…

We are hopeful that they will initiate

meaningful discussion.

We have spoken to both the parties.

The Indian government as well as the…

…the t*rrorists.

Hijackers.

There will be no bloodshed on our soil.

No un-Islamic act.

Our relatives are stuck on board!

You have to let us through.

Okay, let them in. Let them in, please.

Go in.

The Taliban Foreign Minister

has said on record

that they will storm the plane,

if they hear any shouting,

or any noise

or any sh**ting from inside it.

My only son is on that plane.

Please be calm, ma'am.

The government and the Opposition

are trying to solve this matter.

You guys are doing absolutely nothing!

We're moving and groping in the dark.

Pompous statements are being made

about the greatness…

But the fact lies,

it was an absolute security lapse.

-You have to do something.

-She's a doctor.

Look at her. She's a doctor,

I'm a surgeon.

We are the backbone of this country,

we are the middle-class.

When the middle class revolts,

there's a French Revolution.

Although the IC 814 incident

has the stamp of Pakistan,

there's no concrete information

about the hijackers,

even after three days.

Passengers' families

are staging protests at various locations.

The pressure on the government is intense.

Everyone is hoping that a decision

will be made as soon as possible.

First, I would like to thank you all

for being here today.

And as the Foreign Minister

of the government of Afghanistan,

I would like to inform the press today

that we are doing our absolute best

in this situation.

Currently, we're providing them

with food, with water,

and with everything that they need.

But why Kandahar?

Because they wanted to come here.

How were you able to prepare

so much food so quickly?

It was served within hours

of the plane landing in Kandahar.

People are paying the price

for the ineffective security.

Whether it's Nepal or India,

someone is to blame.

I don't want to say much

till my children and family

return home safely.

This all-Party meeting is taking too long.

Make a decision. Move on.

We're looking like assholes.

Sorry, sir.

At the all-Party meeting, it was decided

that we would negotiate

with the hijackers.

But they have not sent any proposals

or demands yet.

-This is too alarmist.

-What?

"3 days, 12 hours" sounds like

a bloody ticking time b*mb.

Is it not?

People will panic.

-Shouldn't they?

-Panic?

-Ask.

-What?

"Why didn't you know?"

"What are you doing about it?"

-They're doing their best.

-Then people should know.

What?

That this is the best that they can do.

Next time when someone takes a flight,

they must know if anything

like this happens, it could take a week.

And they should pack accordingly.

The headline is your call, Sha.

Change it if you like.

But you and I both know

this is the headline

that deserves to be in the news tomorrow.

Sir.

Vijaybhan ji and I

have finalized the negotiating team

that will talk to the hijackers.

They'll find out their demands,

then we can decide.

So, Ranjan Mishra

from RAW. You're the team leader.

You'll go with DRS and Abhijeet Kumar

from MEA.

And Mukul Mohan from IB.

Who will negotiate?

Sir, Mr. Ranjan is

an Afghanistan-Pakistan expert.

I'm ready, sir.

But, if you allow, sir,

Mohan is a tougher negotiator.

Done, sir. I will negotiate.

Besides we have Mr. Mishra's blessings.

Of course. We'll all be there.

So that's done.

Anything else you need?

The tech team, sir, for communication.

I'll be coordinating.

Other than doctors, nurses,

food supplies, medical supplies?

Sir, I think we should have some

commandos with us.

They'll pass as doctors.

I think it's too late for that.

And also the Taliban won't allow it.

What if they did?

Sir…

Vijaybhan ji?

Is that even a question to ask a soldier?

Twenty, sir?

Doctor.

I have a request.

You have a phone.

No, I don't want to call.

You make the call.

If someone picks up,

then my father is okay.

Please, Doctor.

We've just heard a UN plane

has landed in Kandahar.

But the hijackers insist on talking

to Indian negotiators only.

Hello?

What was in the bag, you f*ck?

What was in it?

What did you leave on the plane?

A red bag.

A red bag. What was in that red bag?

What was in the red bag? Talk!

Talk, you f*ck!

Seventeen kilos.

Seventeen kilos of what?

Seventeen kilos of what?

RDX.

Seventeen kilos of RDX?

m*therf*cker.

Jai Hind, Agarwal sir.

Sir, sorry, I don't know how secure

this line is, but bad news, sir.

There's 17 kilos of expl*sives

in a red bag on the plane.

Doctor organized it on his own.

Nagpal.

Yes, sir.

-Has Mishra landed?

-One minute, sir.

Call him when they land.