THE NEWS FREEDOM
NEW DELHI, FEBRUARY 12
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi will embark on a visit to Qatar on February 14th, his second trip to the Gulf nation, Foreign Secretary Vinay Mohan Kwatra announced on Monday. The visit comes amidst positive developments in bilateral relations with release of eight Indian nationals previously detained in Qatar on alleged espionage charges.
Modi’s upcoming visit and the repatriation of Indians represent positive steps in furthering India-Qatar relations. These developments come after months of diplomatic efforts following the detention of the Indian nationals, marking a potential thaw between the two nations.
Giving details, Foreign Secretary disclosed that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to embark on a trip to Doha, Qatar, following his visit to the UAE. Modi’s visit to Qatar, slated for the afternoon of February 14, will entail bilateral discussions with Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad, the Amir of Qatar, as well as engagements with other high-ranking dignitaries in the country. Kwatra highlighted that this marks Modi’s second visit to Qatar, emphasizing the robust bilateral trade relationship currently valued at $20 billion.
Regarding the release of eight Indian nationals, Kwatra expressed satisfaction with the return of seven individuals to India. He affirmed ongoing efforts to secure the swift repatriation of the eighth individual, underscoring continued collaboration with Qatari authorities.
The External Affairs Ministry (MEA) had earlier issued a press release confirming the release and welcoming the Qatari decision. The statement emphasized the government’s gratitude for the Amir’s role in facilitating the homecoming of the detained nationals.
These individuals, serving with a private firm in Qatar, initially faced death sentences in October 2023 on unspecified charges. India vehemently denied any wrongdoing and engaged in extensive diplomatic efforts to secure their release.
In December of the previous year, Qatar’s appeals court commuted the death sentences of the eight former Indian navy officers detained since August 2022. The release of these veterans is seen as a result of the government’s serious efforts.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani held their first in-person meeting since the October sentencing of the eight former Indian navy officers. This occurred in Doha on the sidelines of the COP28 climate summit in Dubai on December 1, according to sources familiar with the matter. Although details of the discussion remain confidential, sources indicated that the leaders focused on strengthening bilateral ties and the welfare of the Indian community in Qatar.
Key highlights
- August 2022: Qatari authorities detained the officers, accused of espionage related to Qatar’s acquisition of advanced submarines.
- October , 2023: The Qatari court initially sentenced the officers to death, though specific charges remained undisclosed. The officers, identified in media reports as Captains Navtej Singh Gill and Saurabh Vasisht, Commanders Purenendu Tiwari, Birendra Kumar Verma, Sugunakar Pakala, Sanjeev Gupta, and Amit Nagpal, and Sailor Ragesh, reportedly worked for Dahra Global, a company training Qatari naval personnel.
- November 9, 2023: MEA spokesperson Arindam Bagchi confirmed an appeal was filed against the initial death sentence, noting the court document’s confidentiality and ongoing legal and consular support.
- October 30, 2023: External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar met with families of the detained officers.