Prime Minister Modi and NSA Doval's efforts lead to release of former sailors imprisoned in Qatar

NEW DELHI: It has been reported that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and National Security Advisor Ajit Doval played pivotal roles in securing the release of former Indian sailors who were imprisoned in Qatar. The sailors, who were accused of leaking information related to the Italian submarine faced a dire situation after being sentenced to death by a Qatari court last October.

Handling the delicate negotiations behind the scenes, Ajit Doval, on the instructions of the Prime Minister, conducted several secret trips to Doha to convey India's position. While External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar handled diplomatic affairs, it was Doval's strategic efforts that played a crucial role in resolving the issue.

Modi's personal relationship with the Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, proved to be instrumental. During their meeting at the COP28 summit in Dubai, Modi discussed bilateral partnership and the welfare of Indians living in Qatar with the Qatari Emir. Following this interaction, the case received attention from the Supreme Court of Qatar leading to the cancellation of the death sentence.

The sailors, Rakesh Gopakumar, Navtej Singh Gill, Birendra Kumar Verma, Saurabh Vashisht, Amit Nagpal, Poornendu Tiwari, Sugunakar Pakala and Sanjeev Gupta who were employed by Dahra Global Technologies and Consultancy in Doha after retiring from the Indian Navy, have now been released. Seven out of the eight have returned to India, marking a significant diplomatic success for the Indian government.