Hijackings, as the world has learnt, can be very disruptive of international relations. When two Kashmiris hijack an Indian plane to Pakistan they are bound to ignite some of the combustible political material lying around. So it has proved in the three weeks since this incident. Although passengers and crew were sent safely back to India, the hijackers destroyed the plane and an angry deadlock subsists between the two governments.

There are neat points to be made. The Indians insist on the return of the criminals: not at all, says Pakistan, they are Kashmiris and thus not true Indian nationals: they have every right to be given asylum. There is also arm-twisting to be resorted to.India quotes a string of international agreements about the responsibility countries have for the security of foreign aircraft in their territory and bans Pakistan overflying of India-first taking the precaution of rerouting their own flights over Pakistan territory to back up the case they are making. Pakistan retorts that international conventions govern overflying too; moreover their own air agreement with India, renegotiated after the 1965 war, has thus been broken. Obviously Pakistan is the worse sufferer in this banning of flights, sharpening as it does the division between east and west Pakistan. Meanwhile Indian demands are unmet.

In ordinary circumstances tempers should cool down in both capitals and the incident be closed with some settlement. The danger is that Pakistan has recently had elections and facts a clash between east and west wings when the now assembly meets in ten clays time. India votes a fortnight hence and parties like the Jan Sangh will press the anti-Pakistan
theme to the voters. Mr. Bhutto, victor in Pakistan's west wing, makers no bones of his anti-Indian line and regards the hijackers as heroes. By contrast east Pakistan's resentment of the west wing will be increased by this reminder that Kashmir and all that is an obsession in the west but a burden to them when improved relations with India are in their interest.