‘A Call to Honour’ is the book, which shook Indian politics. Mumbai Mirror has published some parts of the book that recollect the horrible memories of IC-814 hijacking. Here you may find some parts of the story from ‘Jaswant’ writings.
‘Get your bloody fingers out now. For heaven’s sake, do anything, don’t let the f…..g aircraft leave Amritsar!’ – these are the words coming from the mouth of the then Minister of external affairs Jaswant Singh.’
‘From 24 December until almost 9.30 pm on 31 December – eight days and seven nights are the most crucial time of my life. With no diplomatic representation in Taliban-held Afghanistan made situation unfavorable to India.’
‘The threat was real, it could not be ignored. 166 innocent men and women and one child’s lives were in danger. The intelligence that had firmly and convincingly come our way, ‘that if there was no resolution, the hijackers would do just that – preferably in a suicide mission, with the aircraft in the air.’
‘Three ‘men’ went down the steps they were warmly embraced and joyous shouts. It is difficult to explain who greeted them.’
‘During the return from Kandhar, a young mother with suppressed fear and anger, she came up and clutched at my throat and cried loudly as ‘Why have you come so late? Where were you all this time? You have betrayed all of us. Where are my children? Where is my family?’ And she banged her head against my chest angrily and finally broke down, crying bitterly.’
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