During a bilateral meeting, PM Narendra Modi expressed gratitude to Qatar Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani for the release of eight former Indian Navy personnel, stating that India was pleased to witness their return home.
Although no formal agreements were signed during the visit, government officials highlighted that Modi's engagements in Qatar would contribute to strengthening cooperation between India and Qatar in various fields such as trade, investment, energy, and regional security.
In his meetings in Doha, Modi also discussed the ongoing conflict in West Asia, emphasising the need to uphold peace and stability in the region and beyond.
“We reviewed the full range of India-Qatar relations and discussed ways to deepen cooperation across various sectors. Our nations also look forward to collaborating in futuristic sectors which will benefit our planet,” said Modi in a post on X after the meeting, adding his visit had added new vigour to the India-Qatar friendship.
“India looks forward to scaling up cooperation in key sectors relating to trade, investment, technology and culture,” he said.
PM Narendra Modi and Qatar Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani discussed regional and global issues, including the situation in Gaza.
Eight Indian nationals initially sentenced to death by a Qatar court had their sentences later commuted to imprisonment. Just before Modi's departure for his Gulf tour, the Indian government announced Qatar's release of all the men, expressing gratitude to the Emir for facilitating their return home. It's speculated that the matter was discussed during Modi's meeting with the Emir on the sidelines of COP28 last year. The individuals, accused of spying for Israel, were detained by Qatari authorities in August 2022