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Indian navy veterans arrested on the espionage charges and given death sentence by the Qatari courts had been freed. The capital punishment was commuted to an extended prison term earlier following diplomatic intervention by New Delhi.

• The veterans – Captains Navtej Gill and Saurabh Vasisht, Commanders Purnendu Tiwari, Amit Nagpal, SK Gupta, BK Verma and Sugunakar Pakala, and sailor Ragesh – were detained in August 2022 on undeclared charges.
• They were accused of espionage related to a submarine program for Israel. The Qatari court initially handed down death sentences.
• Diplomatic Interventions: India had earlier expressed “deep shock” at the death sentencegiven by Qatar’s Court of First Instance. 

• The Indian government left no stone unturned in advocating for their release. Utilizing all available diplomatic channels, New Delhi worked tirelessly to secure their freedom.
• The Qatari Emir’s Decision: The Amir of the State of Qatar, in a momentous decision, commuted the death penalties to jail terms. This compassionate act paved the way for the return of these eight nationals to India. Their release is a testament to the power of diplomacy, compassion, and human rights.

India Qatar Relations

• Trade and investment
• India’s bilateral trade with Qatar reached US$ 18.77 billion in 2022-23.
• Qatar is the largest supplier of LNG to India, accounting for over 48% of India’s global LNG imports.
• The India-Qatar Start-up Bridge initiative aims to link the start-up ecosystems of both countries.

• LNG imports: India recently finalised a USD 78 billion agreement to prolong LNG imports from Qatar for an additional 20 years until 2048, securing rates below current prices. This gas will be utilised for electricity generation, fertiliser production, and conversion into compressed natural gas (CNG).
  • Petronet LNG Ltd, the largest importer of LNG in India, announced that it has entered into an agreement with QatarEnergy to extend the contract for purchasing 7.5 million tonnes of gas annually.

Defence cooperation

• India extends training programs in its defense institutions to partner nations, including Qatar.
• Participation in the Doha International Maritime Defense Exhibition and Conference (DIMDEX) strengthens bilateral ties.
• Regular naval and coast guard interactions underscore cooperation between the two nations.
• Za'ir Al Bahr (Roar of the Sea) naval exercises were conducted between Indian Navy and Qatar Emiri Naval Forces.
• Geopolitical dynamics: India’s ties with other Middle Eastern nations don’t always align with Qatar’s alliances.

What is the strategic importance of Qatar for India?

• Qatar has an outsize influence in the Islamic world. It was the key mediator between US and Taliban which culminated into Doha Agreement.
• The widely popular news channel Al Jazeera act as a credible source of news and a point of friction as seen during Saudi Arabia’s blockade of Qatar.
• Indian Diaspora
  • Over 800,000 Indian nationals reside in Qatar, forming the largest expatriate community.
  • During the second wave of COVID-19, Qatar sent COVID medical relief material to India.

How this win shows a shift in India’s Middle East policy?

The Qatar saga has played out amid a similarly dramatic shift in India’s Middle East policy over the last few months, namely with regard to Israel.

• At the outset of the war in Gaza, India was quick to express supportfor Israel, even while reiterating its usual line of support for a two-state solution.
• In November 2023, India voiced its supportfor a United Nations resolution that condemned Israeli settlements in the West Bank and offered similar support in December for a resolution calling for an immediate ceasefire in

At best, the India-Qatar dispute demonstrates that Middle Eastern countries, particularly in the Arab world, are somewhat sensitive to the relationship between Israel and India, especially with regard to military-to-military links. The dispute (and its resolution) shows that India’s relationship with Israel can seriously impact its partnerships with other regional actors.