India has achieved a significant diplomatic victory with the release of eight former Indian Navy personnel who had been imprisoned on spying charges in Qatar. Seven of them have already returned to India after completing their 18-month sentence.
The release was facilitated through Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s rapport with the Emir of Qatar and discreet diplomatic efforts led by National Security Advisor Ajit Doval. While External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar managed the diplomatic front, the intricate negotiations for the release were steered by NSA Doval, under PM Modi’s guidance. Making several discreet visits to Doha, NSA Doval held firm in the belief that the Qatari leadership would empathise with India’s perspective. Initially sentenced to death by a Qatari court in October, the veterans’ case deeply unsettled the Indian government, although the specific charges of espionage were not disclosed by the Qatari government. Subsequently, in December, the court mitigated their sentences, though the specifics remained undisclosed at that time.
During the COP28 summit in Dubai, Prime Minister Narendra Modi held discussions with Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani regarding bilateral cooperation and the welfare of the Indian community residing in Qatar. It was speculated that the matter of the Indians was widely discussed during the meeting.
The Indian government conveyed appreciation for the release of the eight citizens employed by Dahra Global in Qatar, with seven of them having already reached India.
“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 Government’s statement read.
A returning Navy veteran expressed gratitude, stating, “We’re thrilled to be safely back in India. Our heartfelt thanks go to PM Modi for his direct involvement in making this possible. The tireless efforts of the Government of India also played a crucial role in our return.”
#WATCH | Delhi: One of the Navy veterans who returned from Qatar says, "We waited almost for 18 months to be back in India. We are extremely grateful to the PM. It wouldn't have been possible without his personal intervention and his equation with Qatar. We are grateful to the… pic.twitter.com/5DiBC0yZPd
— ANI (@ANI) February 12, 2024
Releasing the ex-Indian Navy personnel is likely to ease tensions between India and Qatar and improve diplomatic relations between the two countries.
The eight Indian nationals were detained in Qatar since October 2022, facing allegations of spying related to a submarine program. Initially, the Qatari court had sentenced them to death on unspecified charges. However, the court later revised the sentence, commuting the death penalty to terms of imprisonment.
Here’s a timeline detailing the sequence of events:
- August 30, 2022: Eight Indian Navy personnel were retained in Doha on suspicion of espionage charges linked to the ‘Dahra Global company’ case.
- October 26, 2023: A lower court sentenced the personnel to death.
- November 9, 2023: The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) initiated diplomatic discussions after obtaining information on the charges.
- December 28, 2023: The Court of Appeals in Qatar commuted their sentence.
- December 29, 2023: The MEA began deliberations with its legal team on the subsequent steps, including their repatriation.
- February 12, 2024: The former personnel were released, and seven of them returned to India.
The eight Indian Navy officials who were detained in Qatar 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 were employed by Dahra Global Technologies and Consultancy in Doha after retiring from Indian Naval force.
Relieved to finally walk free, the seven former Navy officers raised chants of ‘Bharat Mata ki Jai’ after arriving at the Delhi airport in the early hours of Monday.
