No fly zone

India’s new anti-hijacking guidelines are geared towards sending potential hijackers a tough message. These guidelines, among other things, make it clear that there will be no negotiations with hijackers that involve conceding to their demands. The government can now shoot down hijacked planes that it suspects will be used to target sensitive or strategic locations. Hijacked planes will not be allowed to take off. And hijackings will be considered an act of aggression. The procedure for getting authorisation to shoot down planes has been simplified and made clearer.

In some respects, these measures bring India’s anti-hijack policy in line with those of western governments. Post 9/11, it has proven more difficult to strictly adhere to the old convention that the government’s first obligation was to ensure the safety of passengers. In an era where hijacked planes are likely to be used as missiles, a serious rethinking of anti-hijacking policy was warranted. In addition, India needed to exorcise the ghost of the Kandahar hijacking. It had secured the release of passengers, by caving in to the demands of the hijackers. Whatever the wisdom of that decision, there was considerable pressure on the Indian state to send a strong signal that it would act tough. This new policy sends a strong signal that the government will not be held to ransom by hijackers. It is committing itself up front to not cave in to their demands. The policy is also nuanced enough in two respects. It allows engagement with hijackers to the extent that such an engagement might lead to the release of passengers. And it is careful in not giving carte blanche authority to shoot down planes.

But the government should be under no illusion that in the event of a hijacking, it will still have to make tough judgment calls. It will also have to put in place mechanisms to ensure that the guidelines it is laying for the shooting down of aircraft are strictly adhered to.