News Analysis India

Tag: Qatar

  • Diplomatic Victory For India As Qatar Frees 8 Ex-Navy Officers Jailed On Espionage Charges, 7 Back In India |

    New Delhi: Qatar has released eight Indian ex-navy officers who were working for a private company and were sentenced to death by a Qatari court in October 2023. Seven of them have returned to India, while one is expected to join them soon. The release came after Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi met with Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani on the sidelines of the COP 28 summit in Dubai on December 1, 2023. The two leaders discussed bilateral relations and regional issues, and the Emir of Qatar assured PM Modi of his personal intervention in the case of the Indian citizens.

    The Indian government welcomed the release and expressed its appreciation for the decision of the Emir of Qatar. In a press release, the Ministry of External Affairs said, “The Government of India welcomes the release of eight Indian nationals working for the Dahra Global company who were detained in Qatar. Seven out of the eight of them have returned to India. We appreciate the decision by the Amir of the State of Qatar to enable the release and home-coming of these nationals.”

    The eight Indian citizens were arrested in Qatar in September 2022 on charges of espionage and sabotage. They were working for the Dahra Global company, which provides security and maintenance services to Qatar’s Ministry of Defence. They were accused of leaking sensitive information and causing damage to Qatar’s defence installations.

    On October 26, 2023, a Qatari court sentenced them to death after a trial that was criticized by human rights groups and the Indian government for lack of transparency and due process. The Indian government had lodged a strong protest and sought consular access to the detainees. The Indian ambassador to Qatar, Vipul, was able to meet them on December 3, 2023, after the intervention of the Emir of Qatar.

    The case was taken up by the Court of Appeal in Qatar, which heard the arguments of the defence lawyers and the prosecution on November 20 and 23, 2023. On December 28, 2023, the Court of Appeal overturned the death sentence and ordered the release of the eight Indian citizens.

    The release of the Indian citizens is a major diplomatic success for India and demonstrates the strong ties between the two countries. Qatar is an important partner for India in the Gulf region, with bilateral trade exceeding $10 billion and more than 700,000 Indians living and working in Qatar. The two countries have also cooperated on energy, security, and counter-terrorism issues.

  • 8 Former Indian Navy Personnel In Qatar Prison Can Now Hope To Serve Their Jail Term In India

    Eight Indian nationals have been imprisoned in Qatar since October 2022 and were accused of alleged spying on a submarine programme. 

  • Kin of naval veterans on trial in Qatar hopeful of their repatriation after upcoming judgement

    Express News Service

    NEW DELHI: The judgement in the ongoing trial of eight Indian naval veterans in Doha will be announced on Thursday. The families of the eight naval veterans are hopeful that their repatriation is round the corner.

    “We are hoping to have them back by Diwali. There is optimism in our houses and we are presuming that they will be back,” said a relative of one of the veterans.

    The eight 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.

    They were picked up by Qatar’s Ministry of Interior on August 30, 2022 for questioning and never returned home. They were kept in solitary confinement and were later charge sheeted (details of which have not yet been made public).

    In October 2022, they were asked to go back home and pack their bags to return to India, but by the time they returned with their bags there was a change of heart and they were sent back to their solitary confinement cells. The bags that these veterans had brought with them are in their possession in their cells. They have been living under twin sharing basis for the past few months.

    The eight worked for Dhara Consultancies which had to down its shutters earlier this year.

    “The seventh hearing on the charges that have been levelled against officers was held on October 3. On October 1, India’s Ambassador in Doha and Deputy Head of Mission met the eight naval veterans. We have also been in touch with their families on a regular basis, extending all possible assistance,” Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Arindam Bagchi had said earlier.

    ALSO READ | Fearing arrest over story on jailed naval veterans, Indian journalist and husband flee Doha Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp

    NEW DELHI: The judgement in the ongoing trial of eight Indian naval veterans in Doha will be announced on Thursday. The families of the eight naval veterans are hopeful that their repatriation is round the corner.

    “We are hoping to have them back by Diwali. There is optimism in our houses and we are presuming that they will be back,” said a relative of one of the veterans.

    The eight 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.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });

    They were picked up by Qatar’s Ministry of Interior on August 30, 2022 for questioning and never returned home. They were kept in solitary confinement and were later charge sheeted (details of which have not yet been made public).

    In October 2022, they were asked to go back home and pack their bags to return to India, but by the time they returned with their bags there was a change of heart and they were sent back to their solitary confinement cells. The bags that these veterans had brought with them are in their possession in their cells. They have been living under twin sharing basis for the past few months.

    The eight worked for Dhara Consultancies which had to down its shutters earlier this year.

    “The seventh hearing on the charges that have been levelled against officers was held on October 3. On October 1, India’s Ambassador in Doha and Deputy Head of Mission met the eight naval veterans. We have also been in touch with their families on a regular basis, extending all possible assistance,” Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Arindam Bagchi had said earlier.

    ALSO READ | Fearing arrest over story on jailed naval veterans, Indian journalist and husband flee Doha Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp

  • India engaged with Qatari authorities as second hearing of Navy veterans to be held in May

    Express News Service

    NEW DELHI: It’s been three weeks since individual charges were levelled against the eight former Indian navy veterans in Doha. However, there is no clarity on what these charges are.

    The second judicial hearing under Qatari law is expected in May and the Indian embassy in Doha is providing consular and legal assistance.

    “We are engaged with the Qatari authorities and are in touch with the families of the officers living in Doha,” Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Arindam Bagchi told The New Indian Express.

    The officers are calling their families every week back home in India, but from hope and optimism of repatriation, fear of the unknown has set in.

    ALSO READ | No respite for eight Indian Navy veterans detained in Qatar as trial continues

    The officials were made to sign some documents on the day the charges were levelled against them and nobody has a clue on what they could be as details aren’t known yet.

    The judicial trial is based on Qatari law and there is no clarity on what this beholds. Dahra Consultancies is taking care of the incidentals it is learnt.

    The loss is not just in terms of the time that has gone by since the fateful night of August 30, 2022 when these eight were picked up individually from their houses by officials of Qatar’s interior ministry — but also of events. Marriages of children have taken place without the fathers gracing the occasion, some children have joined university while others have taken up jobs.

    The most tragic is the condition of the mothers of these veterans who are over 80 years old and have no clue on how much longer they may have to wait to see their sons in person again.

    NEW DELHI: It’s been three weeks since individual charges were levelled against the eight former Indian navy veterans in Doha. However, there is no clarity on what these charges are.

    The second judicial hearing under Qatari law is expected in May and the Indian embassy in Doha is providing consular and legal assistance.

    “We are engaged with the Qatari authorities and are in touch with the families of the officers living in Doha,” Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Arindam Bagchi told The New Indian Express.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });

    The officers are calling their families every week back home in India, but from hope and optimism of repatriation, fear of the unknown has set in.

    ALSO READ | No respite for eight Indian Navy veterans detained in Qatar as trial continues

    The officials were made to sign some documents on the day the charges were levelled against them and nobody has a clue on what they could be as details aren’t known yet.

    The judicial trial is based on Qatari law and there is no clarity on what this beholds. Dahra Consultancies is taking care of the incidentals it is learnt.

    The loss is not just in terms of the time that has gone by since the fateful night of August 30, 2022 when these eight were picked up individually from their houses by officials of Qatar’s interior ministry — but also of events. Marriages of children have taken place without the fathers gracing the occasion, some children have joined university while others have taken up jobs.

    The most tragic is the condition of the mothers of these veterans who are over 80 years old and have no clue on how much longer they may have to wait to see their sons in person again.

  • No charges framed against eight former Indian naval officers detained in Qatar

    Express News Service

    NEW DELHI:  It has been 90 days since eight former Indian naval officers were taken into captivity in Qatar. Their bail applications have not been accepted, and what is more disconcerting is the fact that no charges have been levelled against them yet.

    “What is of utmost concern for us is that no charges have been levelled against these eight officers, despite the fact that they have been kept in solitary confinement,’’ sources told TNIE. It is learnt that a week after these naval officers were detained in Doha (on August 30), the CEO of Dahra Global Technologies and Consultancy in Oman Khamis Al Ajmi (who is a retired squadron leader of the Royal Oman Air) came to Doha to rescue the officers.

    However, Qatar’s state security bureau (ministry of interior) detained him too. He was under detention for nearly two months and has now been released on bail. However, he cannot move out of Doha till this case is finally resolved.

    The families of the naval officers have been pursuing and following up with the Qatari authorities to release the officers on bail. However, none of their bail pleas has been accepted. A bail application has been put up every month for the past three months, sources said. Some point out that in Qatar it takes about 90 days of detention (which the naval officers have completed) before charges are framed and the detainees released. 

    Meanwhile, according to the Ministry of External Affairs, the Indian embassy in Doha is actively pursuing their case.  The detained Indians are able to speak to their families back home in India now over telephone on a regular basis. Some of them have families staying in Doha and they are allowed weekly physical meetings. 

    “We will allow all possible consular assistance. We are seeking further consular access from the embassy to these people,’’ MEA spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said. The eight officers in detention are also fighting depression and a range of health issues. Their families are hoping that they would be considered to be let out on bail, which will enable them to live with their respective families.

    “The officers were working with Dahra Global Technologies and Consultancy in Doha for five years. Sometime in August they were picked up from their homes in the middle of the night by the state security bureau,’’ according to sources. These officers were involved in providing training to Qatari navy. 

    NEW DELHI:  It has been 90 days since eight former Indian naval officers were taken into captivity in Qatar. Their bail applications have not been accepted, and what is more disconcerting is the fact that no charges have been levelled against them yet.

    “What is of utmost concern for us is that no charges have been levelled against these eight officers, despite the fact that they have been kept in solitary confinement,’’ sources told TNIE. It is learnt that a week after these naval officers were detained in Doha (on August 30), the CEO of Dahra Global Technologies and Consultancy in Oman Khamis Al Ajmi (who is a retired squadron leader of the Royal Oman Air) came to Doha to rescue the officers.

    However, Qatar’s state security bureau (ministry of interior) detained him too. He was under detention for nearly two months and has now been released on bail. However, he cannot move out of Doha till this case is finally resolved.

    The families of the naval officers have been pursuing and following up with the Qatari authorities to release the officers on bail. However, none of their bail pleas has been accepted. A bail application has been put up every month for the past three months, sources said. Some point out that in Qatar it takes about 90 days of detention (which the naval officers have completed) before charges are framed and the detainees released. 

    Meanwhile, according to the Ministry of External Affairs, the Indian embassy in Doha is actively pursuing their case.  The detained Indians are able to speak to their families back home in India now over telephone on a regular basis. Some of them have families staying in Doha and they are allowed weekly physical meetings. 

    “We will allow all possible consular assistance. We are seeking further consular access from the embassy to these people,’’ MEA spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said. The eight officers in detention are also fighting depression and a range of health issues. Their families are hoping that they would be considered to be let out on bail, which will enable them to live with their respective families.

    “The officers were working with Dahra Global Technologies and Consultancy in Doha for five years. Sometime in August they were picked up from their homes in the middle of the night by the state security bureau,’’ according to sources. These officers were involved in providing training to Qatari navy. 

  • India distances itself from derogatory remarks made on Prophet by fringe element

    Express News Service

    NEW DELHI: India has issued a clarification and distanced itself from offensive tweets that someone made on Prophet Mohammad, on Sunday.

    Taking objection to what appeared on social media, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Qatar summoned the Indian envoy Ambassador Deepak Mittal.

    Qatars’ Minister of State of Foreign Affairs Soltan bin Saad Al-Muraikhi, handed Ambassador Mittal a note expressing disappointment and condemned the remarks.

    In response, India has said that the tweets do not reflect the views of the Indian government and are of fringe elements.

    Qatar has welcomed the statement by the Indian government announcing the suspension of party officials from making such statements which have hurt the sentiments of more than 2 billion Muslims across the world.

    Meanwhile, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has stated that with India’s civilisational heritage and strong cultural traditions of unity in diversity, the government accords the highest respect to all religions. “We should work together against such mischievous elements who aim to undercut the strength of our bilateral ties,” according to the MEA statement.

  • India deeply values Qatar’s role in its energy security: VP Naidu

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu on Sunday said India deeply values Qatar’s role in its energy security and underscored the need to move beyond buyer-seller relationship into a comprehensive energy partnership.

    Naidu reached Qatar on Saturday on the last leg of his three-nation tour. He is the first ever vice president of India to visit the State of Qatar.

    The vice president called on Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, father of Amir of Qatar and held delegation level talks with Sheikh Khalid bin Abdulaziz Al Thani, the Prime Minister and Minister of Interior of Qatar on Sunday.

    Highlighting that India and Qatar have historic ties built on mutual trust and respect, Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, father of Amir of Qatar hoped that more investments can be made by Qatar in India and more industrial and business houses can establish economic ties with Qatar.

    The vice president and father of the Amir agreed that there is a huge potential to diversify trade between the two countries, a statement issued by the Vice President Secretariat said.

    Appreciating that Qatar’s investment in India has grown five times since March 2020, Naidu opined, “it is still well below potential and can be substantially increased”. He also said that there is a keen interest in the private Indian business community to build partnerships with Qatar.

    The vice president lauded Qatar for emerging as an education hub in the region and expressed happiness over several Indian universities opening offshore campuses there. He thanked Qatari leadership for taking care of the 7.8 lakh Indians in Qatar.

    “We are happy to note that Indians are found in all walks of life and have become a part and parcel of Qatar’s developmental journey,” the statement said quoting Naidu.

    Naidu also reiterated the Indian community’s long-standing request for a prayer hall and a crematorium in Qatar.

    Referring to the landmark visits by the Amir to India in 2015 and Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Qatar in 2016, Naidu said the relations are driven by close chemistry between the leadership of the two countries.

    Observing that nearly 40 per cent of India’s gas requirements are met from Qatar, Naidu said that India deeply values Qatar’s role in its energy security and underscored the need to move beyond buyer-seller relationship into a comprehensive energy partnership.

  • Indian envoy to Qatar meets Taliban leaders, concerns addressed against using Afghan soil for terrorism

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: Indian envoy to Qatar Deepak Mittal on Tuesday met Taliban leader Sher Mohammad Abbas Stanekzai in Doha, first high-level contact between the two sides on a day the US completed withdrawal of its troops from Afghanistan.

    The Ministry of External Affairs said Ambassador Mittal raised India’s concern at the meeting that Afghanistan’s soil should not be used for anti-Indian activities and terrorism in any manner.

    It said the discussions focused on safety, security and early return of Indian nationals stranded in Afghanistan as well as the travel of Afghan nationals wishing to visit to India.

    ALSO READ | China asks Taliban to make ‘clean break’ with terror groups, form inclusive govt for recognition

    The MEA said the Taliban leader assured the Mittal that these issues would be positively addressed.

    “Today, Ambassador of India to Qatar, Deepak Mittal, met Sher Mohammad Abbas Stanekzai, the Head of Taliban’s Political Office in Doha,” the MEA said in a release.

    It said the meeting took place at the Embassy of India, Doha, on the request of the Taliban side.

    “Discussions focused on safety, security and early return of Indian nationals stranded in Afghanistan.

    The travel of Afghan nationals, especially minorities, who wish to visit to India also came up,” the MEA said.

    “Ambassador Mittal raised India’s concern that Afghanistan’s soil should not be used for anti-Indian activities and terrorism in any manner,” it added.

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  • Indian envoy to Qatar meets Taliban leaders, says Afghan soil must not be used for terrorism

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: Indian envoy to Qatar Deepak Mittal on Tuesday met Taliban leader Sher Mohammad Abbas Stanekzai in Doha, first high-level contact between the two sides on a day the US completed withdrawal of its troops from Afghanistan.

    The Ministry of External Affairs said Ambassador Mittal raised India’s concern at the meeting that Afghanistan’s soil should not be used for anti-Indian activities and terrorism in any manner.

    It said the discussions focused on safety, security and early return of Indian nationals stranded in Afghanistan as well as the travel of Afghan nationals wishing to visit to India.

    ALSO READ | China asks Taliban to make ‘clean break’ with terror groups, form inclusive govt for recognition

    The MEA said the Taliban leader assured the Mittal that these issues would be positively addressed.

    “Today, Ambassador of India to Qatar, Deepak Mittal, met Sher Mohammad Abbas Stanekzai, the Head of Taliban’s Political Office in Doha,” the MEA said in a release.

    It said the meeting took place at the Embassy of India, Doha, on the request of the Taliban side.

    “Discussions focused on safety, security and early return of Indian nationals stranded in Afghanistan.

    The travel of Afghan nationals, especially minorities, who wish to visit to India also came up,” the MEA said.

    “Ambassador Mittal raised India’s concern that Afghanistan’s soil should not be used for anti-Indian activities and terrorism in any manner,” it added.

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