Why is it in the News?

A Qatar court has reduced the death sentences awarded to eight former Indian Navy personnel last month in connection with an alleged case of espionage.

What is the Case?

• Arrest of Eight Navy Personnel: On August 30, 2022, eight former Indian Navy personnel, accompanied by two others, were apprehended under undisclosed charges and subsequently placed in solitary confinement.
  • These individuals were affiliated with Al Dahra Global Technologies and Consultancy Services, a defense services provider company.
  • Sources indicate that the Indian nationals were privately engaged with the company to supervise the induction of Italian small stealth submarines U2I2.
  • The company's previous website, now defunct, mentioned its provision of training, logistics, and maintenance services to the Qatari Emiri Naval Force (QENF).
• Charges Against the Men: The specific charges against the individuals have not been publicly disclosed; however, media reports suggest that the eight Indians are accused of espionage on behalf of Israel.
• Death Penalty for Navy Veterans: In March 2023, after multiple unsuccessful bail pleas, the trial for the Navy veterans commenced, culminating on October 26, 2023, with the imposition of the death sentence on all eight men.
• India's Appeal: In November 2023, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) announced the filing of an appeal, revealing that its legal team possessed details of the charges.
  • The Indian ambassador in Doha visited the incarcerated individuals on December 3, providing consular access.
  • This access occurred shortly after Prime Minister Modi met Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani during the COP28 summit in Dubai on December 1.

What Options Has India Explored?

• One avenue involves legal challenges, a step that has been acknowledged and has temporarily mitigated the sentence.
• Concurrently, India has actively utilized diplomatic channels to engage with the Qatari authorities.
• The families have submitted a mercy plea to the Emir of Qatar, leveraging the tradition of pardons granted during Ramadan and Eid, with support from the Indian government.

India-Qatar Bilateral Relations:

• Economic Ties: In recent years, the trade volume between India and Qatar has witnessed fluctuations.
  • During the fiscal year 2015-2016, trade between the two nations reached an impressive $10 billion.
  • However, recent years have seen a slight decline in trade due to falling gas and oil rates in the international market.
• Trade Statistics and Import Dependence: In the fiscal year 2022-23, India's total imports from Qatar amounted to $16.81 billion, primarily in fossil fuels like liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), plastics, and petrochemical products.
  • Conversely, India's exports to Qatar during the same fiscal year were valued at $1.97 billion, covering items such as cereals, copper articles, iron and steel products, vegetables, fruits, spices, and processed food items.
• Investment Interests and Collaborative Projects: Qatari authorities, particularly the Qatar Investment Authority, express interest in investing in India, focusing on infrastructure development, roads, highways, economic corridors, and projects related to gas and fertilizers.
  • India reciprocates with a keen interest in direct investments in liquefied natural gas, chemical industries, fertilizer production, urea, petrochemicals, and infrastructure projects.
• India's Growing Energy Needs: India, with its growing energy needs, has a robust energy partnership with Qatar, dating back to a 1990 agreement.
  • This commitment involves India purchasing 7.5 million tonnes of LNG annually for 25 years.
  • The collaboration was further strengthened in December 2015, with Qatar agreeing to augment its LNG supply to India by an additional one million tonnes annually.
• Collaboration in Defence Affairs: India's defense collaboration with Qatar focuses on training, mutual participation in conferences and events, and visits by Indian Navy and Coast Guard vessels.
  • Notably, the joint naval exercise 'Zair-Al-Bahr' showcases significant cooperation between the Indian and Qatari Navies.
  • Both nations are committed to combating the financing of terrorism.
• Cultural Interaction: The Indian Cultural Centre (ICC) plays a crucial role in overseeing Indian community associations in Doha.
  • Qatar's role as a co-sponsor of the United Nations General Assembly Resolution designating June 21 as the International Day of Yoga is highly valued by India.
• Indian Diaspora in Qatar: The Indian community in Qatar, numbering approximately 700,000, constitutes the largest expatriate group.
  • Their contributions span diverse sectors, including projects related to the Qatar 2022 FIFA World Cup, and annual remittances to India are estimated at around 750 million dollars.
• Indispensable Role of Qatar as an LNG Supplier: The cornerstone of the bilateral trade relationship lies in liquefied natural gas (LNG), where Qatar plays a pivotal role by meeting 80% of India's LNG requirements.
  • India imported a total of 19.85 million tonnes of LNG in the fiscal year 2022-23, with approximately 54% of this LNG.
  • This significant reliance on Qatar, both through long-term contracts and spot purchases, underscores the challenge of diversifying India’s sources of LNG.

Challenges in India-Qatar Bilateral Relations:

• BJP Spokesperson's Controversy: The initial strain in the relationship arose in June 2022 when BJP spokesperson Nupur Sharma made derogatory references to the Prophet on a TV show.
  • Qatar was the first country to object and demanded a public apology from India.
• Jailing of Navy Personnel: The second significant challenge involves the imprisonment of eight ex-Navy personnel.
  • This development caught New Delhi off guard, particularly given the substantial Indian expatriate community in Qatar, where 800,000 Indians live and work.
• Israeli-Gaza Conflict: The news of the death penalty for the Indians coincided with heightened tensions in the Middle East due to the Israeli bombardment of Gaza.
  • Qatar, with its strong sympathy for the Palestinians, has played a mediating role, including securing the release of American hostages from Hamas captivity.
  • Qatar's diplomats are actively engaged as regional mediators in the ongoing crisis.

Maximizing Opportunities for Strengthened Relations:

• Safeguarding Expatriate Workers: India must engage in negotiations aimed at ensuring the protection of the rights and well-being of its expatriate workers in Qatar, who have encountered various labour-related challenges.
• Cultural Exchange and Soft Power: Recognizing the widespread popularity of Bollywood among Qataris, India should actively explore diverse avenues for cultural exchange to amplify its soft power influence.
  • This cultural diplomacy can serve as a bridge for deeper understanding between the two nations.
• Cooperation in the Education Sector: The presence of esteemed Western universities in Qatar presents an opportunity for Indian students to access quality education abroad without the usual constraints of long distances and high living costs.
  • Strengthening cooperation in the education sector can further elevate the resilience and depth of the India-Qatar relationship, even in the face of seemingly intractable diplomatic challenges.
• Collaborative Environmental Sustainability: India and Qatar can forge a collaborative path towards fostering a cleaner and more energy-efficient environment.
  • Joint efforts in environmental sustainability can contribute to shared global goals.