Newsstand - India airports on terrorist alert

http://www.bangkokpost.com/breaking_news/breakingnews.php?id=114112

A state of high alert has been declared at all Indian airports, particularly seven in the southern states Kerala and Tamil Nadu, following threats of a possible terrorist attack, news reports said Thursday.
The high alert was issued after the director of Trichy Airport, in Tamil Nadu, received an anonymous handwritten letter, written in Tamil, warning of an attack by al-Qaeda at airports or on aircraft in southern India, reported the news agency PTI.

The FBI is in on the action too, mostly with regards to NW, DL and AA.

Indian officials to meet to discuss hijack threat
Reuters
Monday, November 13, 2006; 5:46 AM


NEW DELHI (Reuters) - Senior government officials in India will meet to discuss measures to prevent airplane hijacks on Monday after an FBI warning that a plane flying to the United States or Europe could be targeted.

Security was stepped at airports across the country on Sunday after the FBI told Indian intelligence agencies that it had information about plans to hijack a plane from India, officials said.

..............

Security officials say that extra "spotters" to watch suspicious behavior among passengers have been deployed and airline staff asked to be extra vigilant.

Hours before the meeting, air traffic controllers in New Delhi had a scare after a Kuwait Airways aircraft accidentally flew over an air exclusion zone that covers the prime minister's house and parliament after takeoff.

"The pilot turned the wrong way. He apologized," Chakravarty said.

Full article here:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/11/13/AR2006111300178.html

The FBI is in on the action too, mostly with regards to NW, DL and AA.



Full article here:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/11/13/AR2006111300178.html
The only flights that originate in India and fly to the U.S. non-stop are the AA and CO non-stops. However, NW flight from BOM could be at risk too.
I am inclinded to take this more seriously than the warnings issued in the U.S., as a India orginating flight hijacked on its way to the U.S. serves more than one purpose for Pakistan based terrorist outfits.

The only flights that originate in India and fly to the U.S. non-stop are the AA and CO non-stops. However, NW flight from BOM could be at risk too.
I am inclinded to take this more seriously than the warnings issued in the U.S., as a India orginating flight hijacked on its way to the U.S. serves more than one purpose for Pakistan based terrorist outfits.

That's right about the flights. I accidentally left out CO. :o

The more recent items getting the FBI's involvement relate to US passenger airlines flying to the US and/or to Europe. That would be AA, CO and DL for non-stops, and DL and NW for India-Europe.

The anonymous note written in Tamil and sent to a Tamil Nadu airport official I don't take too seriously as being tied to a Pakistan-supported terrorist outfit. (If I find out more details perhaps that could sway me.) Pakistan support for the LTTE or LTTE-sympathizers and that coming into play with this note seems a little too far fetched to me. Also, in more recent years, Pakistan-supported terrorist outfits don't generally announce their plans in advance when aiming for an internationally rock-the-boat high-profile target. This is not to say that there's not a risk.

I'll try to find out more mid-week about the nature of the information conveyed.

That's right about the flights. I accidentally left out CO. :o

The more recent items getting the FBI's involvement relate to US passenger airlines flying to the US and/or to Europe. That would be AA, CO and DL for non-stops, and DL and NW for India-Europe.

The anonymous note written in Tamil and sent to a Tamil Nadu airport official I don't take too seriously as being tied to a Pakistan-supported terrorist outfit. (If I find out more details perhaps that could sway me.) Pakistan support for the LTTE or LTTE-sympathizers and that coming into play with this note seems a little too far fetched to me. Also, in more recent years, Pakistan-supported terrorist outfits don't generally announce their plans in advance when aiming for an internationally rock-the-boat high-profile target. This is not to say that there's not a risk.
I'll try to find out more mid-week about the nature of the information conveyed.
I didn't take the handwritten Tamil note seriously either. As I understand, the FBI is referring to a separate threat. Actually, I don't know if this second threat is credible either. But a US bound plane hijacked after taking off from an Indian airport is a dream come true for Pakistan bases terrorists.

I didn't take the handwritten Tamil note seriously either. As I understand, the FBI is referring to a separate threat.

I'd hope so. What's the weather like nowadays in DEL? About perfect for visitors. :eek:

Actually, I don't know if this second threat is credible either. But a US bound plane hijacked after taking off from an Indian airport is a dream come true for Pakistan bases terrorists.

Akin to a proverbial killing of two birds with one stone? :eek:

I'd hope so. What's the weather like nowadays in DEL? About perfect for visitors. :eek:



Akin to a proverbial killing of two birds with one stone? :eek:
A bit more than that. Not only does it strike at two enemies, it also gives Pakistani Govt an opportunity to draw attention away from terrorists operating out of Pakistan. These obejctives are not achieved by announcing their intentions.

Are there any huge issues related to flights headed east from India or arrivals from SE Asia region (i.e. SIN)?

A bit more than that. Not only does it strike at two enemies, it also gives Pakistani Govt an opportunity to draw attention away from terrorists operating out of Pakistan. These obejctives are not achieved by announcing their intentions.

That too is a possibility but that'll require Pakistani intelligence to score a perfect score such as to deny the inevitable Indian government's pointing of the finger toward Pakistan. That said, it's not beyond the Pakistani intelligence services to attempt a redirect, including, for example, to pin the blame on the Tamil Tigers (as that strikes back at the LTTE's anti-Pakistani moves as well). So does such a plot take out three birds with one stone. :eek: Or is that four birds with one stone? :eek: There are certainly quite the number in the Pakistani intelligence establishment who wouldn't cry for four birds to be taken out of the sky by one stone and serve a variety of their interests at the same time. :eek:

Are there any huge issues related to flights headed east from India or arrivals from SE Asia region (i.e. SIN)?

Security-wise there's no difference in terms of timing causing additional issue.

On first pass, the only major difference is that US carriers don't fly from India to other places in Asia.

I'll ask a bit more about this.