India achieved a diplomatic victory and successful resolution through back-channel negotiations as eight veteran Indian Navy officers and sailors, previously detained in the Gulf country of Qatar on charges of alleged espionage in the Al Dahra Global Case, safely returned to India.
India has achieved yet another diplomatic victory under the leadership of Hon’ble PM Shri @narendramodi ji. Former Indian Navy officers arrested in Qatar have been released and returned to India. Upon their homecoming, these ex-Navy men & their families extended their immense… pic.twitter.com/LRHe2winCO
— Office of Kiren Rijiju (@RijijuOffice) February 12, 2024
In August 2022, the intelligence agency in Qatar apprehended Indian nationals working for the private company Al Dahra on suspicions of espionage. At that time, neither Qatar nor India publicly disclosed any formal charges. Subsequently, the Qatari authorities accused these individuals of spying on a submarine, leading to their imprisonment in the same month.
In March of the following year, the trial of the navy veterans commenced in compliance with Qatari law, with official charges being filed against them. In October 2023, the Court of First Instance in Qatar issued death sentences to the eight men. Expressing deep shock, the Government of India pledged to provide consular and legal assistance, exploring all possible avenues to secure the release of the veterans. In response, the Indian government lodged an appeal against the death sentences in a higher court in Qatar in November 2023. The Qatari court accepted India’s appeal against the death penalty, signaling a review of the case.
During the COP-28 summit in Dubai on 1 December 2023, Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s meeting with Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani influenced a change in the Qatari authorities’ position on the death sentences. Two days after this meeting, the Indian ambassador to Qatar obtained the first consular access to meet the eight imprisoned Indians. Subsequently, an appellate court in Qatar commuted the death sentences to prison terms for the eight Indian veterans. Doha finally released all eight veterans of the Indian Navy, with seven of them returning to India on 12 February 2024.
(Timeline Credit: Firstpost)
The eight Indian Navy veterans are Captain Navtej Singh Gill, Captain Birendra Kumar Verma, Captain Saurabh Vasisht, Commander Amit Nagpal, Commander Purnendu Tiwari, Commander Sugunakar Pakala, Commander Sanjeev Gupta, and Sailor Ragesh.
Bilateral Trade And Diplomacy
In 1973, India and Qatar established diplomatic relations. During a visit by Emir Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani in March 2015, under the leadership of the present NDA-led Narendra Modi government, five Memoranda of Understanding were signed to facilitate cooperation across diverse domains. Additionally, an agreement addressing the repatriation of prisoners was reached. According to this accord, individuals convicted and sentenced for a crime in either India or Qatar can be repatriated to their respective home countries to complete the remainder of their prison terms.
During the blockade imposed by Bahrain, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE on Qatar over alleged support for Islamists and Iran, Qatar faced pressure to meet the Anti-Terror Quartet’s demands. Although admitting to aiding groups like the Muslim Brotherhood, Qatar denied supporting terror organizations like al-Qaeda and the Islamic State. In 2017, neighboring countries closed land and sea borders, disrupting Qatar’s food imports, and prompting the establishment of the India Qatar Express Service to alleviate the food crisis. India and Qatar also formed joint business ventures to enhance Qatar’s agricultural resources. Recently, India signed a $78 billion LNG deal with Qatar, extending imports till 2048 at lower rates, contributing to PM Modi’s vision of making India a “gas-based economy” and increasing natural gas’s share to 15% in the primary energy basket by 2030. The deal is expected to save $6 billion for India. Key exports between the two nations include LPG, chemicals, petrochemicals, and various commodities, highlighting the growing economic ties.
Criticism Gone Wrong, Only Silence Persists
On 6 April 2023, Congress leader Jairam Ramesh raised questions about the Indian government’s alleged inability to facilitate the return of retired Navy personnel detained in Qatar. In a social media post, he shared a lengthy statement, expressing concern over the prolonged detention despite the special relationship between India and Qatar. Ramesh questioned why the government had not been able to clarify the case details or provide reassurance to the ex-naval personnel and their families. He also raised the possibility of the Prime Minister’s reluctance to pressure Qatar due to the country’s significant investment in Adani Electricity Mumbai through its sovereign wealth fund. The statement urged the government to explain to the families and the public why the ex-servicemen were being treated this way. Will the Congress now recognize the efforts of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and External Affairs Minister Jaishankar in the release and issue a press statement? Sensationalizing a critical issue for political gains is regrettable for the grand old party.
Here is my statement on the continued detention of retired Indian Navy personnel in Qatar a country with which Modani has a special relationship. Why has this relationship not helped the ex-servicemen so far? pic.twitter.com/JTtvnT3x8V
— Jairam Ramesh (@Jairam_Ramesh) April 6, 2023
Upon the veterans being sentenced to death, Mohammed Zubair of Alt News posted a sarcastic message on X expressing satisfaction, underscoring the Prime Minister’s statement referring to Qatar as his “second home.” It’s worth noting that Zubair had actively participated in a contentious campaign against former BJP spokesperson Nupur Sharma during diplomatic tensions between India and Qatar. The latter demanded an apology from India over remarks related to Prophet Muhammad, though the actual situation revealed a different reality. The MK Stalin-led DMK government of Tamil Nadu has granted the Kottai Ameer Communal Harmony Award to such propagandist and a pseudo-journalist. Moreover, he has not only stirred tensions within communities but has also escalated matters to the extent of creating friction between two nations while remaining cool with the burning fire.
Any comments LKFC @zoo_bear ? https://t.co/ZGOpZUQ3Uy pic.twitter.com/4Ud8MGwhbG
— Shehzad Jai Hind (@Shehzad_Ind) February 12, 2024
The NDA-led Narendra Modi government consistently emphasizes its commitment to nationalism, putting the nation first. A notable instance is the swift return of Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman to India, just 58 hours after being captured by Pakistan. His courageous walk through the Attari-Wagah border on the night of February showcased India’s resilience. Now, witnessing the safe return of 8 Indian veterans through diplomatic channels is another significant victory for the country.
(With inputs from IndiaToday)
Subscribe to our channels on Telegram, WhatsApp, and Instagram and get the best stories of the day delivered to you personally.