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9/11 anniversary: How the terror strike became a crucial turning point in India-US ties

From sanctions in 1998 to strategic, defence cooperation in 2021, how ties evolved
9/11 anniversary: How the terror strike became a crucial turning point in India-US ties
9/11 anniversary: How the terror strike became a crucial turning point in India-US ties

ITDC INDIA EPRESS/ITDC NEWS R In 1998, shortly after Atal Bihari Vajpayee became prime minister, India conducted its second set of nuclear tests at Pokhran, Rajasthan. The result was a freeze in ties with the US, which imposed economic sanctions against India.

The impact of the sanctions wasn't much, as, apart from Japan, no other country imposed economic sanctions. Also, India's newly liberalised economy was in the 'India Shining' phase. A year later, the Taliban hijacked an Indian Airlines flight, IC 814 with 176 passengers on board, demanding the release of three of its men from Indian prisons. After the slaying of Rupen Katyal, a passenger returning from his honeymoon in Kathmandu, Indian authorities had little choice but to accept the demand and release Ahmed Omar Saeed Sheikh, Mushtaq Ahmed Zargar and Masood Azhar

Two years later, the 9/11 bombings hit the US and shocked the world. It later turned out that Sheikh was involved in sending funds for these bombings. He was also reportedly involved in the kidnapping and execution of American journalist Daniel Pearl. Masood Azhar, who founded the Jaish-e-Muhammad, is connected with the Indian Parliament attack (2001) and the 26/11 attacks in Mumbai (2008), in which six US citizens lost their lives.

 

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