Prime Minister Narendra Modi‘s personal relationship with the Emir of Qatar and behind-the-scenes diplomacy by National Security Advisor Ajit Doval ensured that the eight former Indian Navy personnel were released from custody.
While the diplomatic front was handled by External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, the delicate negotiations for the release of ex-Navy personnel were conducted by NSA Doval at the advice of PM Modi. NSA Doval made a number of quiet trips to Doha with the conviction that the Qatari leadership would understand the Indian point of view. A Qatari court sentenced the veterans to death in October in a case that “shocked” India’s government. The Qatar government didn’t disclose the charges the former Navy officers faced, but reports claimed that they were accused of espionage. In December, the court reduced their sentences, although no details were available at the time.
Congress veteran and former Union minister Mani Shankar Aiyar on Sunday triggered a row by reportedly describing Pakistanis as the “biggest assets of India” and criticising Prime Minister Narendra Modi for refusing to hold dialogue with Pakistan. Mani Shankar Aiyar, who has faced the Bharatiya Janata Party’s criticism for his controversial remarks in the past, also called for open communication channels between India and Pakistan, Dawn reported. “The Pakistanis, from my experience, have been the people who react perhaps overreact to the other side. If we are friendly, they are overfriendly and if we are hostile, they get over hostile…I have never been to a country where I was been welcomed with such open arms as I was in Pakistan,” Dawn quoted Mani Shankar Aiyar as saying.
The Latest News
‘Inspired by Mamata’s courage’: Journalist Sagarika Ghose as TMC names her Rajya Sabha candidate.
Return 50 pc of tax amount paid by Maharashtra: Uddhav to Centre.
Qatar frees 8 Indian Navy veterans: Who are they? Why it’s India’s diplomatic win?
India News
Tamil Nadu governor skips customary address of DMK govt over factual grounds.
Farmers’ ‘Delhi Chalo’ protest: Section 144 imposed in entire Delhi, large gatherings banned.
Bihar trust vote today: Heavy police force outside Tejashwi Yadav’s residence, RJD attacks Nitish Kumar.
Global Matters
What is Alaskapox? Alaska reports first fatal case of viral disease.
Pakistan election results: PML-N in alliance talks with PPP, MQM-P; Nawaz Sharif could be PM. Dig Deeper
CBP dog sniffs out something unusual in passenger’s luggage – mummified monkeys.
Entertainment Focus
After the highly successful RRR, director SS Rajamouli has yet to kickstart his next project. The yet-to-be-titled SSMB29, starring Mahesh Babu in the lead role, has been written by Rajamouli’s father, writer Vijayendra Prasad. Recently, there were rumours that American-born Indonesian actor Chelsea Islan has been roped in for the project. Here’s what we know. While 123Telugu reported in January that Chelsea has been roped in to play a key role in Rajamouli’s next, the filmmakers did not confirm or deny the same. On Sunday, a fan on Reddit pointed out that Chelsea had newly followed Rajamouli on Instagram, sparking rumours again that she might be a part of the project. “Looks like the rumours about the Indonesian actress Chelsea Elizabeth Islan being part of SSMB29 was true, she started following SSR in insta, (sic),” wrote the fan, sparking a discussion.
Lifestyle and Health
Colours and romance share an intricate relationship where each hue contributes to the emotional tapestry of love. As Valentine’s Day approaches, the desire to infuse our living spaces with the hues of love and romance becomes paramount. The language of love extends beyond mere words, it is an artful composition of colours that sets the stage for a heartfelt celebration. The interplay of these colours creates a visual symphony, changing environments into intimate sanctuaries, where emotions unfold. From mellow mauves to soft blush tones, each colour plays a unique role in creating an atmosphere that resonates with the essence of this special day. Ar. Bhuvan Kapila and Ar. Gagandeep Kapila, Founders and Principal Architects of Workshop for Metropolitan Architecture shared with HT Lifestyle some romantic hues that can revamp interiors into enchanting havens of affection. Get ready to make your home Valentine’s Day ready!
Sports Goings
Over the past few weeks, there have been significant speculations over the places of certain players in Team India’s squad; one of them, Ishan Kishan, has drawn considerable attention. Ishan has been away from action since November last year and withdrew from the South Africa tour mid-way next month, reportedly citing mental fatigue. Last week, India head coach Rahul Dravid was visually displeased with repeated questions over Ishan Kishan’s unavailability, stating that the player needs to play some cricket before returning to the national fold. A few days later, a report revealed Ishan has returned to training alongside the Pandya brothers – Hardik and Krunal – in Baroda.
Read more news like this on HindustanTimes.com
There had been huge expectations from the Modi dispensation on the safe release of the veterans ever since the courts in Qatar had, in December last year, set aside their death sentences-a development thought to have been facilitated by the Modi government’s proactive diplomacy.
The release of the veterans came just a day ahead of Prime Minister Modi’s February 13-14 visit to the UAE to inaugurate the country’s first Hindu temple, BAPS Mandir, in Abu Dhabi and meet the top leadership. Modi is also travelling to Doha on February 14. India, in a coincidence, had last week signed a $78 billion (Rs 6.47 lakh crore) deal to extend LNG imports from Qatar by another 20 years till 2048 at rates lower than the current prices.
Insiders in the government believe that while Modi’s equation with Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani played a key role, New Delhi’s backdoor diplomacy eventually made the naval veterans’ release possible. National Security Advisor Ajit Doval had made multiple visits to Doha to keep the negotiations on track. Legal assistance provided by the ministry of external affairs (MEA) too helped.
Sources claim a change of mind in the Qatari government, which has been very secretive about the Indians’ arrest, probably happened after Modi met Al Thani on the sidelines of the COP28 summit in Dubai on December 1. Just two days later, the Indian ambassador to Qatar Vipul got the first consular access to the eight Indians in prison. On December 28, a court in Doha set aside their death sentences.
The MEA announced the release of the Indians in the wee hours of February 12. “Seven out of the eight have returned to India. We appreciate the decision by the Emir of the State of Qatar to enable the release and homecoming of these nationals,” the MEA said in its statement. The MEA has stated that the developments were being supervised by PM Modi.
On arrival, one of the veterans thanked the prime minister. “We are very happy that we are back in India, safely. We would like to thank PM Modi as this was only possible because of his personal intervention.”
The eight Indians were detained in August 2022 on charges of spying for Israel. After a year-long trial, a Qatari court on October 26, 2023 sentenced them to death. The Indian government had mounted a full-fledged legal challenge besides engaging in proactive diplomacy to secure the release of the veterans, identified as 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 Rajesh.
The naval veterans were employees of the Qatar-based Al Dahra Global Technologies and Consultancy Services. The company, established in 2014, is owned by Khamis Al Ajami, a retired squadron leader of the Royal Air Force of Oman who has world-class training infrastructure for the Qatari Emiri Naval Forces and was conducting radar navigation training for their cadets. Ajami was also arrested in the case but secured bail in November 2022.
Subscribe to India Today Magazine
