A month after a little known airline in the US alleged links between Jet Airways and Al-Qaeda, Washington has formally sought security-related information from India about the airline, pertaining to allegations that it is funded by persons close to the Al-Qaeda. It’s learnt that Robert Blake, currently the US Acting Ambassador and Charge D’ Affaires in India, has written to the Civil Aviation Ministry in this regard. Sources said attention has been drawn particularly to charges that the airline received funds from Dawood Ibrahim Kaskar between 1991 and 1993. Dawood had been designated an international terrorist by the US government. The US Embassy declined to comment on the matter. India is yet to respond with the Civil Aviation Ministry taking the view that the issues involved are not totally in its purview. The matter has been referred to the Home Ministry and the External Affairs Ministry. The charges against Jet Airways have been made by an airline with the same name, Jet Airways Inc. The Maryland-based airline, which is yet to procure an aircraft, filed a formal objection with the US Department of Transport in May against the application by Jet Airways (India) to operate flights to the US. This happened after India and the US signed a landmark open skies agreement allowing any number of airlines from either side to commence flights to any number of destinations in both countries. Jet has already got the permission from the Civil Aviation Ministry. The principal issues raised by Jet Airways, Inc., were alleged links between Jet Airways (India) and terrorist outfits besides the dispute over the same trade name. While Jet Airways (India) responded to these allegations, the US-based airline filed another affidavit on June 10 elaborating its earlier charges. Jet Airways, Inc., claims to have also submitted a CD with information in support of its allegations. Here, the airline alleges that Jet Airways (India) received funds from the ‘‘Kaskar family’’. It has questioned the original transfer of $10 million with which Jet Airways was started in 1991. While the airports authority in New Jersey came out in support of the Jet Airways (India) application, the US Department of Transport is said to be waiting for clearance from the Department of Homeland Security. The delay in grant of permission has affected Jet Airways’ plans to launch its first flight by late June. Jet Airways (India) has, meanwhile, filed a case against Jet Airways, Inc., in the US and has drawn attention to the fact that the carrier has had no problems obtaining permission from other countries. It has already started operations to London and has received permission to fly to Brussels. Meanwhile, Air India is trying to get the Airbus 340 that Jet Airways had leased and kept aside for its US operations. Given that Jet is paying a huge sum as lease amount for the plane, sources said, the Maharaja felt it could be a win-win situation if Jet were to allow it to use the aircraft which it needs to bolster its existing fleet.
