India reaffirms commitment to combat terrorism in all its forms: Jaishankar on 41st anniversary of Kanishka bombing
New Delhi, June 23
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Tuesday paid solemn tributes to the victims of the tragic Air India Flight 182 'Kanishka' bombing on its 41st anniversary and reaffirmed India's commitment to combating terrorism in all its forms and manifestations.
Taking to social media platform X, the minister emphasised that New Delhi remains resolute in its fight against terrorism.
"Today, on the 41st anniversary of Air India 182 'Kanishka' bombing, we honour the memory of those who lost their precious lives in this horrific terror incident. Reaffirm our commitment to combating terrorism in all its forms and manifestations," Jaishankar stated.
The mid-air bombing, which occurred on June 23, 1985, remains one of the deadliest acts of aviation terrorism in global history, comparable in scale to the September 11 attacks in 2001. The Boeing 747 aircraft, operating on the Montreal-London-Delhi route, was blown up at an altitude of 9,400 metres by the Canada-based Khalistani terrorist group Babbar Khalsa, claiming the lives of all 329 passengers and crew members on board.
The catastrophic blast occurred while the aircraft was above the Atlantic Ocean, navigating Irish airspace. Marking the largest mass killing in Canadian history, that claimed the lives of 329 individuals, including 268 Canadian citizens and 24 Indian nationals.
To honour their memory, the High Commission of India in Ottawa, alongside the Consulates General of India in Toronto and Vancouver, joins the families of the deceased and representatives of the Indian diaspora annually on June 23 to pay solemn tribute to the victims of this heinous act of terrorism across synchronised ceremonies in Ottawa, Toronto, and Vancouver.
More than four decades later, India, Canada, and Ireland continue to share the profound grief of an air tragedy that left the international community deeply shocked and altered global aviation security standards.
— ANI
Reader Comments
It's heartbreaking that after 41 years, some of the masterminds were never fully punished. Canada's reluctance to act decisively back then is a stain on justice. Jaishankar is right—India must keep up the pressure on all nations to crack down on terrorist safe havens. No more double standards!
The Kanishka bombing changed aviation security worldwide, but the real lesson is about the ideology that spawned it. We need to de-radicalise communities and ensure history isn't repeated. Good to see Jaishankar acknowledging this tragedy—it keeps the spotlight on cross-border terrorism.
Every year we remember, but where is the full closure for the families? The Canadian authorities should have done more to extradite the accused. India's stand is correct—terrorism has no religion, no justification. Let's hope the upcoming joint efforts yield real results, not just statements.
I was just a kid when this happened, but my parents still talk about the fear it created in the Indian diaspora. Kudos to Jaishankar for keeping this issue alive diplomatically. However, India must also strengthen its own domestic counter-terror mechanisms to prevent such attacks again.
A somber day indeed. 329 lives lost—just for a political cause. India's commitment is commendable, but I wish we saw more concrete action against the Khalistani networks that still exist abroad. Words are good, but justice delayed is justice denied. #KanishkaBombing #NeverForget
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