New Delhi, India

On the 39th anniversary of the devastating bombing of Air India Flight 182, known as the 'Kanishka' incident, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar paid tribute to the 329 victims and issued a stern warning that terrorism "should never be tolerated."

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In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Jaishankar said, "Today marks the 39th anniversary of one of the worst acts of terrorism in history. Pay my homage to the memory of the 329 victims of AI 182 'Kanishka' who were killed this day in 1985. My thoughts are with their families. The anniversary is a reminder why terrorism should never be tolerated."

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The Kanishka bombing, which occurred on June 23, 1985, was a devastating act of aviation terrorism that claimed the lives of 268 Canadian citizens, mostly of Indian origin, along with 24 Indians and 27 British citizens.

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The plane, a Boeing 747-237B, was en route from Montreal to London when a bomb concealed in a suitcase exploded, causing the aircraft to break apart over the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Ireland.

'Cowardly act of terror'

The incident was described by Indian-origin Canadian Member of Parliament Chandra Arya as a "cowardly act of terror, carried out by Canada-based Khalistani terrorists." 

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In a separate statement, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) acknowledged that the Kanishka investigation remains "the longest and certainly one of the most complex domestic terrorism investigations" in the force's history, with efforts still "active and ongoing" after 39 years.

Jaishankar's tribute come amid strained ties between India and Canada, particularly after the Canadian Parliament observed a "moment of silence" for Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a Sikh separatist leader designated as a terrorist by India.

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The Indian government has accused Canada of providing a safe haven for individuals advocating violence and extremism. Meanwhile, the Indian Consulate General in Vancouver has announced a memorial service to pay tribute to the victims of the Kanishka bombing. 

(With inputs from agencies)