In a rare gesture, Prime Minister Narendra Modi personally arrived at Indira Gandhi International Airport to welcome Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani, on Monday. PM Modi’s act of deviating from set protocol shows how close the ties are between the two countries.

It is worth noting that the Emir of Qatar is on a state visit to India on February 17 and 18 during which, he will hold talks with PM Modi on various aspects of bilateral relations.

His visit will give further impetus to our growing multifaceted partnership, the Ministry of External Affairs said in a statement while adding that a high-level delegation will also accompany him to India, which will include ministers, senior officials and a business delegation.

Qatar has been an old friend of India and last year, a decision of Qatar became a topic of much discussion in India wherein a Qatar court had sentenced 8 Indian naval veterans to death. However, after diplomatic intervention from India, this punishment was changed to life imprisonment and after this, seven of these naval personnel returned to India. One is still there in Qatar.

The meeting between PM Modi and Qatar’s Emir needs to be seen in the context of the release of Indian Navy veterans who were sentenced to death on charges of espionage but were pardoned by the Qatari Emir after diplomatic intervention. This entire process highlights how........

© News9Live