Osama bin Laden had originally actually planned the strikes undertaken in New York and Washington against the other 'Evil Empire' - India. He had positioned his cells in various Indians cities and prepared the ground for hijackings. However, after the dry runs for the exercise were undertaken by Osama's lieutenants, the Saudi warlord decided to drop plans for India and opt for the softer target - the United States. Why this change of heart? Scattered transcripts of email and cell exchanges between Osama and the cells gives us an inkling into what actually occurred.
Here is one particularly interesting email:
Osama Assalam Waliekum We had carried out the exercise you asked us to do so. We had targetted the Qutab Minar in Delhi and we had very easily entered five Indian Airlines Planes flying from Mumbai to New Delhi. Not only did we enter them without out knives undetected, we also carried in guns and grenades as our hand luggage. But the operation could not be carried out because of the following reasons:
1) Flight No. 1: Did not take off. It had apparently developed technical problems which the IA ground crew was unable to rectify for two days.
2) Flight No. 2: Was overbooked and we were offloaded by rude IA staff despite having confirmed tickets that we had booked a month in advance. Apparently, there was a group of VIPs who were traveling at the last moment and had to be accommodated.
3) Flight No. 3: Did take off with us on board. However, it was forced to land at Jaipur because of a fuel shortage. When investigated, it was found that the pilots and the air hostesses had arrived late on duty. The pilots were sardars and after starting the plane on the runway, they stepped out of the cockpit and stood in front of the engine fans to dry their hair. That consumed half of the fuel.
4) Flight No. 4: Took off and was successfully approaching Delhi. We were about to take over the aircraft when suddenly it started descending steeply. On investigating, we learnt that both pilots were Banias and were closely related. During the course of a chat, they entered into an argument over their parental property and when the matter got intense, they started physical fighting leaving the aircraft to an air hostess to land somewhere in Madhya Pradesh. It took us three das by bullock cart to reach Delhi and there was no point in hijacking that vehicle.
5) Flight No. 5: We had taken over the controls of the plane without any bloodshed. We paid Rs.5,000 each to the pilots who agreed to jump out leaving the plane to us and we went ahead to destroy Qutab Minar. As we increased the velocity for the approach, the plane wobbled, developed a snag, and had to be landed somewhere in Haryana. It took us one day by bus to reach New Delhi.
Flight No. 6: Was our most successful attempt. We had taken over the flight and were approaching the Qutab Minar when we were suddenly attacked by a group of hoodlums. Apparently, a certain Indian politician called Laloo Prasad yadav was on board along with his supporters and he was angry over being diverted, and instead wanted the flight to be taken directly to Patna. We were simply outnumbered. We were thrown out of the plane. We are now sending you this report from the All India Institute of Medical Sciences' emergency ward. The situation is worse here and nobody cares about us. In the name of Allah, please rescue us from this Hell…please."



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