India-Qatar Relations, Areas Of Cooperation, Challenges

Context: The decision by the Court of Appeal in Qatar to overturn the death sentences previously handed down to eight Navy veterans.

India And Qatar Relations

• India and Qatar have close and long-standing relations, dating back to the ancient Silk Road.
• Formal diplomatic relations were established in 1973.
• The relationship has grown significantly in recent years, driven by strong economic and trade ties, a large Indian expatriate community in Qatar, and shared interests in regional and global issues.

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India And Qatar Relations Timeline

Areas Of Cooperation Between India And Qatar

Trade and Investment

• India’s bilateral trade with Qatar in 2022-23 was US$ 18.77 billion.
• India’s export to Qatar during 2022-23 was US$ 1.96 billion and India’s import from Qatar was US$ 16.8 billion(Qatar is the largest supplier of LNG to India, with over 48% of India’s global LNG imports.)
• India-Qatar Start-up Bridge is a joint initiative to link the start-up ecosystems of two countries.
• 50 wholly-owned Indian companies are located in Qatar in these diverse fields and the 15,000 jointly owned companies are adding momentum to the India-Qatar economic partnership.

Defence Cooperation

• Training Programs: India extends training opportunities in its defence institutions to partner nations, including Qatar.
• Participation in Exhibitions: India consistently participates in the Doha International Maritime Defence Exhibition and Conference (DIMDEX) held in Qatar every two years.
• Naval and Coast Guard Interactions: Indian Naval and Coast Guard vessels frequently make port calls in Qatar, underlining the bilateral cooperation and interaction between the two nations.
• Defence Cooperation Agreement: The India-Qatar Defence Cooperation Agreement was initially inked during the Indian Prime Minister’s visit in November 2008. This pact was renewed for another five-year term in November 2018.
• Exercise Zair-Al-Bahr: Maritime Exercise.

Indian Diaspora

• There are over 800,000 Indian nationals residing in Qatar comprising the largest expatriate community in Qatar.

Covid cooperation

• Qatar sent COVID medical relief material to India to combat the second wave of COVID-19, Qatar Petroleum filled Liquid Medical Oxygen (LMO) in cryogenic tankers which were shipped through various Indian Naval Ships to India.

Challenges for India And Qatar Relations

• Unprecedented Verdict: The unexpected death sentence of eight ex-Indian Navy personnel, including notable veterans like Commander Purnendu Tiwari (a Pravasi Bharatiya Samman awardee), could strain diplomatic ties between India and Qatar.
• Lack of Transparency: The details surrounding the case against the Navy personnel are ambiguous, leading to concerns about the fairness and speed of the trial.
• Cultural and Religious Sensitivities: Cultural integration and understanding pose significant challenges, particularly given incidents like derogatory remarks about the Prophet on an Indian TV show, after which Qatar sought a public apology.
• Labour and Migrant Workers’ Concerns: Despite reforms, issues persist around the welfare of Indian migrant workers in Qatar. Concerns include working conditions, remuneration, and legal rights, occasionally causing diplomatic friction.
• Geopolitical Dynamics: India’s ties with other Middle Eastern nations don’t always align with Qatar’s alliances.
  • For example, the 2017 blockade by a Saudi Arabia-led bloc impacted India’s interactions with other Gulf Arab states.
  • The issue of Indian fugitive Zakir Naik, wanted since 2016 for alleged crimes, attending the FIFA World Cup in Qatar further complicated matters.

Qatar’s Influence in World Politics

• Qatar played an important role as a mediator in the Doha Agreement between the US & the Taliban.
• Qatar is leading mediation talks with Hamas and Israeli officials over the release of hostages after the Israel-Hamas conflict.

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