India reaffirms commitment to combat terrorism in all its forms: Jaishankar on 41st anniversary of Kanishka bombing

India’s commitment to combat terrorism in all its forms was reaffirmed by External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar on the 41st anniversary of the Air India Flight 182 “Kanishka” bombing. Speaking on June 23, Jaishankar paid tributes to the victims and said New Delhi remains resolute in its fight against terrorism. The mid-air attack occurred on June 23, 1985, when a Boeing 747 operating the Montreal–London–Delhi route was destroyed at about 9,400 metres. The Canada-based Khalistani terrorist group Babbar Khalsa was linked to the blast, which killed all 329 passengers and crew, including 268 Canadian citizens and 24 Indian nationals. The High Commission in Ottawa, with consulates in Toronto and Vancouver, held synchronized commemorations. The attack is described as among aviation’s deadliest terrorist acts and is compared to 2001’s September 11.