Taliban militia surround plane

The Indian government, however, made it clear that no agreement had been reached so far on releasing any of the 35 Kashmiri militants and a Pakistani cleric Maulana Masood Azhar, as sought by the hijackers.

In a related development, the hijackers allowed an unidentified Indian passenger to be taken to a hospital for medical attention but made it clear that he would have to return to the aircraft.

As per the hijackers8217; conditions, the sick passenger who was released, returned to the aircraft after medical aid in a hospital on Thursday, a Taliban official said.

The man, an Indian aged 25, was brought back to the airport just 90 minutes after he was allowed to leave the plane, the official said.

He was driven to the plane in a white van and then walked a few paces to a flight of steps on the far side of the aircraft.

He wore blue jeans and a white shirt and walked unaided, witnesses said.

Taliban guards also brought extra blankets to theaircraft, the witnesses said.

Civil Aviation Secretary Ravindra Gupta told reporters here that the passengers quot;seem to be in a condition as good as anybody who can be under such circumstances.quot;

Taliban authorities had been providing food regularly, he said, adding at no no point of time the hostages on board the aircraft ever missed a meal during the ordeal.

Meanwhile, United Nations coordinator for Afghanistan Erick de Mul arrived back in Kandahar on Thursday as the Indian Airlines hijack ordeal went into its seventh day, witnesses said. De Mul8217;s 19-seater UN plane landed shortly before 11:30 am but he refused to talk to reporters as he walked into the airport terminal.

The diplomat was involved in early negotations when the plane first landed at Kandahar, and was able to secure the release of one sick passenger on Sunday.

Mul has also hinted at the possibility of Taliban authorities storming the plane to free the hostages. quot;The pressure on them Taliban is enormous because it is happening in their territory and they are taking it seriously.

quot;They Talibans have time and again said that they are responsible for the safety and security of the people inside the plane.quot;

Asked if the Talibans can force the hijackers to fly out of Afghanistan, the UN official said that stage has not reached yet as the negotiations between the hijackers and the Indian officials were continuing.

He referred to the demands of the hijackers and said these were quot;quite strongquot; and may make the negotiations by the Indian officials very difficult.

Stating that there has to be some compromise, De Mul said quot;negotiation is something which involves some give and take.quot;

De Mul had a lot of praise for Taliban authorities for handling the crisis with all sincerity. The 15-member European Union has, meanwhile, called for concerted action from all sides involved for immediate release of the hostages. In a strongly-worded statement, the presidency of the European Union condemned quot;this terrorist actquot; and expressed deep concern for the safety of the passengers in the hijacked plane.

The EU reiterated its unequivocal support to the combat against terrorism in all forms, whatever its motives and origin. quot;Terrorism constitutes a threat to internal and international security, to peaceful relations between states and to the development and functioning of democratic institutions throughout the world,quot; the statement said.