India's Diplomacy Tested Over Death Penalty for Eight Ex-Navy Personnel in Qatar

New Delhi: India is understood to be in touch with Qatar at various levels after the death penalty announced on Thursday by a Qatari court on eight former Indian Navy personnel, who had reportedly faced espionage charges. On Friday, external affairs minister S. Jaishankar spoke to Oman foreign minister Badr Albusaidi, a significant move given that Oman remains one of India’s closest strategic Arab partners in the Gulf region, though it is unclear whether the Qatar verdict was brought up by the minister during the conversation. 

Mr Jaishankar said bilateral ties and the West Asia situation were discussed.

The case involving the eight Indians is expected to fully test India’s diplomacy in the region, given the lakhs of Indian citizens living and working in Gulf nations. Both Oman and Qatar are part of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). The Indian government will also have to tread carefully in the matter as Qatar plays an important role in India’s



energy security and is one of the largest suppliers of LNG to India.

India has said it will challenge the verdict of the the Qatari Court of First Instance, and had reacted with "deep shock" at the verdict on Thursday. It said it attaches high importance to the case, and is in touch with the family members of the eight Indians, exploring all legal options and will continue to extend all consular and legal assistance. It had added it did not want to make any further comment at this stage "due to the confidential nature of proceedings of this case". 

New Delhi will pore over the detailed court judgment to mount a serious and sustained legal challenge to the verdict, given that eight Indian lives are at stake.

The BJP. meanwhile, said on Friday that India will fight a legal battle to bring back all the eight former Indian Navy personnel who have been sentenced to death in Qatar.