India may seek payment for Pan Am hijack victims

[NEW DELHI] India may soon seek compensation from the United States for 12 of its nationals killed during the hijacking of Pan Am 73 in Pakistan more than 27 years ago, local media reported on Wednesday.

The 12 Indians were on board the American flight when terrorists belonging to Abu Nidal Organization (ANO) hijacked it in Karachi way back in 1986. The attack was carried out with cover from Libyan authorities and Tripoli in 2008 had paid a compensation of US$1.5 billion to the United States. However, even though the funds were not from US taxpayers, Washington decided to compensate only the American passengers and abandoned the Indians and those of other nationalities.

The families of the Indian victims have approached the government urging New Delhi to take up the issue with US Secretary of State John Kerry, if not President Barack Obama, saying that the Indian crew on board the flight saved the lives of Americans, and yet Washington chose to "discriminate" against the Indians, The Times of India reported.