Escape from Doha: Big diplomatic victory for India

Subhasish Mitra (Wide Angle)

The hectic behind-the-scenes diplomacy that played a key role in ending the 18-month ordeal of eight former Indian Navy men imprisoned in Qatar on alleged espionage charges can be viewed as a reflection of strengthening economic ties between the West Asian powerhouse and India.

 

The rapid change in the Qatari government’s stance from the death sentence in October last year to jail terms in December to freedom took place ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s two-day visit to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on February 13.

 

The PM reportedly played an active role in securing the release of these men from the jaws of death by personally negotiating with Qatar’s Emir Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani on the sidelines of the COP28 summit in Dubai in December last year.

 

Diplomatic circles believe that New Delhi's quiet diplomacy and India's economic heft in Qatar contributed to the release of the ex-navymen.

 

That eight Indian ex-navymen, initially sentenced to death in Qatar, are now back from the gallows is in itself no small news.

 

Procedurally, the Indian government had appealed the case in Qatari courts. That had already led to death sentences being commuted to imprisonment of various durations. But, the heavyweight intervention came after Modi met Qatar’s Emir at Cop28 summit in Dubai.

 

The ex-navymen were tried and sentenced in near total secrecy. No details were available, but speculation swirled they were charged with espionage while working with a private firm involved in a Qatari naval project. Israel was speculated to be the beneficiary.

 

But none of this was confirmed by New Delhi or Doha.

 

An ever grateful Prime Minister Narendra Modi conveyed his "deep appreciation" to Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani for the release of eight Indians, previously on death row.

 

"We are extremely gratified to see them back in India," Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra said.

 

Prime Minister Modi also thanked the Emir for his support for the welfare of the Indian community in the Gulf nation.

 

The prime minister thanked the Emir for his support for the welfare of the Indian community, and in this regard, expressed his deep appreciation to the Emir for the release of eight Indian nationals of Al-Dahra company.

 

Seven out of eight Indians had returned to India on Monday after Qatar freed them. The Navy veterans were on October 26 given death sentences by Qatar's Court of First Instance.

 

The Court of Appeal in the Gulf nation on December 28 commuted the capital punishment and sentenced them to jail terms for varying durations.

 

The former Indian Navy personnel apparently faced charges of espionage, but neither the Qatari authorities nor New Delhi made the charges against them public.