2. Indian Press Commentaries
The Times Of India editorializes that "...India has to bear in mind that [the hostages'] freedom has been secured at a cost ... The cost can be minimised ... if the nation will wake up to the harsh realities of its security environment."
"Setback for India"
By placing the hijack crisis in a broader context, Dileep Padgaonkar finds cause for Indian optimism.
"Resurgent India :Taming the Demon of Inertia"
The HINDU editorial board explains why, "instead of seizing the initiative or wearing down the hijackers through the process of negotiations, the Centre has unfortunately been responding sluggishly to the fast-paced developments."
"Bumbling crisis management."
Inder Malhotra chronicles seven stages during which the hijack crisis was mishandled.
"Most mortifying outrage"
T. Sreedhar provides some useful recent historical analysis regarding the Taliban and its relations with Pakistan and India.
"The Taliban and India"
Amit Baruah writes that "The Indian case of Pakistan abetting, supporting and training militants in Kashmir is a very strong one. At every opportunity, India must remind Pakistan and the rest of the world about this fact. But that should not prompt a propaganda campaign that could have unforeseen implications in relations between the two countries."
"New low in Indo-Pak. Ties."
This HINDU editorial focuses on a variety of criticisms of the Indian government's handling of the crisis.
"Govt. had no other option: experts,"
Prem Shankar Jha opens his long, two-part essay with the following statement: "Since Mr. Jaswant Singh decided to accompany the three released terrorists to Kandahar and bring back the released hostages himself, we can assume that the Government regards the end of the hostage crisis as a feather in its cap. The truth is rather different. India has just been handed its most serious psychological defeat of the entire Kashmir war. Worse still, it has been humiliated before the eyes of the entire international community."
Defeat at Kandahar - I
Defeat at Kandahar - II
V. R. Raghavan concludes an extensive analysis by stating: "Involving the people in governance is the need of the times ahead. That involves greater public accountability of the government apparatus. It means building people's confidence in the political leadership's greater concern for the common man than for the privileged segments."
"Looking beyond the hijacking."
Harkishan Singh Surjeet, (general secretary, CPI-M) writes that, "While securing the release of over 150 traumatised passengers, the Vajpayee Government compromised severely the national interest."
"Bungling that proved costly."