Connection between hijacking and the Liberation War:
On January 30, 1971, a domestic flight from India “Ganga”, an Indian Airlines Fokker F27, was hijacked by two Kashmiri separatists. The hijackers were Hashim Qureshi and his brother Ashraf Qureshi, who were members of a suicide bomber group known as the separatist group. "Al Fateh"They took the plane to Lahore and it was later destroyed by the Pakistani government.
India's response:
Following this incident, the Indian government banned all air communication with Pakistan. As a result, direct air communication between East Pakistan (present-day Bangladesh) and West Pakistan ceased. This was important for the Liberation War, as it became difficult to send troops and supplies directly from West Pakistan.
Influence on the Liberation War:
In March 1971, when the Pakistan army “Operation Searchlight” When the Bangladesh Liberation War began, India's air blockade effectively isolated East Pakistan. West Pakistan could not easily send troops or military equipment, which created a strategic advantage for the freedom fighters.
This kidnapping incident, on the one hand, complicated the Kashmir issue, and on the other hand, played an important role in the liberation war of Bangladesh.
