Modi in Qatar after Doha freed 8 Indian nationals; meets top leaders, diaspora

INDIAN prime minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday (14) reached Doha in Qatar, days after the Middle Eastern country released eight former officials of the Indian Navy on charges of espionage following hectic diplomatic efforts.

The Indian leader, who visited Qatar after 2016, was received by the host nation's state minister for foreign affairs Soltan bin Saad Al-Muraikhi at the airport. During his two-day stay in Qatar, Modi was set to hold talks with the Emir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani.

On Wednesday, Modi met his Qatari counterpart and foreign minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani and spoke with him over ways to boost friendship between the two nations.

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The Indian external affairs ministry said Modi's trip to Doha was aimed at strengthening bilateral relations between the two Asian powers.

"Giving a fillip to the historic and deep-rooted bonds with Qatar! PM @narendramodi arrives on a visit to Doha. Received by State Minister for Foreign Affairs of Qatar, Soltan bin Saad Al-Muraikhi at the airport. Wide-ranging talks with Qatari leadership on strengthening bilateral partnership lies ahead," Randhir Jaiswal. the ministry's spokesperson, wrote on X.

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The Indian prime minister's office said Modi spoke with his Qatari counterpart over expanding bilateral cooperation in sectors such as trade and investment, energy, finance, and others.

Earlier, Modi posted on X after reaching Qatar from the UAE where he had an eventful days of holding bilateral meetings, addressing a diaspora meet, speaking at a global summit and inaugurating the BAPS Hindu temple.

"Landed in Doha. Looking forward to a fruitful Qatar visit which will deepen India-Qatar friendship," he said on X.

The Indian PM also received a warm welcome from the Indian community in Doha. In a post including pictures of his interaction with members of the Indian expat community, he called the welcome "exceptional" and said he was "grateful" to the Indian diaspora.

Last year, India and Qatar marked 50 years of establishment of full diplomatic relations between them.

Modi's latest visit to the Middle Eastern nation assumes great significance particularly in the wake of the release of the navy veterans who were arrested by Qatari intelligence officials in August 2022 in an alleged espionage case. However, neither Qatar nor India brought to the public charges made against the former Navy officials, who worked for a private company. They were also given death sentences.

Last November, New Delhi filed an appeal against the capital sentence at a higher court in Qatar.

In December, Modi met the Qatari Emir on the sidelines of the COP28 summit in Dubai. It is believed that their talks may have prompted a change of position among the Qatari authorities on the arrested officials' punishment. The sentences were commuted later that month.

However, reports surfaced in India recently that it was not the Modi government but Bollywood actor Shah Rukh Khan who had helped in freeing the Indian nationals. As the matter triggered a buzz on the internet, the actor's office refused such claims.