The India-Qatar relationship is going through a testing period. Eight former Indian Navy officials are being held in Qatar over charges of spying for Israel. The one relief that has come in the last few days for India has been that the initial death sentences that were handed out to the eight officers by a court in Qatar have now been dropped. People familiar with the matter point out that given the sensitivity of the charges against the eight officers, it is unlikely that there will be any ‘deal’ between the two countries to secure their release.

Another issue that has arisen, sources in the know point out, is that India and Qatar, in March 2015, during the visit of Qatari Foreign Minister Dr. Khalid Bin Mohammed Al Attiyah to India, signed an agreement on the ‘Transfer of Sentenced Persons’. Under the agreement, Indian prisoners convicted in Qatar can be brought to India to serve the remaining part of their sentence and similarly Qatari citizens convicted in India can be sent to their home country to serve their sentence. But the catch here is that while India ratified the treaty, Qatar never did.

Sources point out that given the present case where the charges levelled against the former Navy officials are that of espionage (allegedly for Israel), Qatar is unlikely to now ratify this treaty anytime soon. So, chances of the former Indian Navy officers coming back to India to serve their terms, seem remote.

This incident is also taking place at a time when the Middle East is witnessing a horrific war in Gaza where Israeli forces are battling Hamas after the October 7 attack. Qatar is playing an extremely crucial role in these sensitive times as it is able to step in and talk to Hamas on the one hand and also with the Israelis, on the other. Doha has, in coordination with the United States, led mediation talks with Hamas and Israeli officials over the release of prisoners on both sides

KP Fabian, who served as India’s Ambassador to Doha points out that while this matter is serious, the India-Qatar relationship will not be seriously affected by it given the determination of the two governments to preserve that relationship. As to whether the eight Indians are guilty of the charges levelled against them, he said that in such matters it is necessary to go by the court verdict.

The Court of Cassation will be approached by India’s legal team. It is a matter of great relief that the death sentence has been revoked. It is for India’s diplomacy to ensure that the eight are brought back to India, and even kept in jail if necessary, as early as possible, he added.

Media reports here indicate that the eight men arrested are retired Indian navy officers, some of whom commanded warships during their service. They were working with a consulting company named Al Dahra, advising the Qatari government on the acquisition of submarines, but were arrested on suspicion of spying for Israel on Qatar’s submarine programme.

Publicly, both India and Qatar have not commented much on the subject, but the issue has become a sensitive one in India. New Delhi would like to see its men return home or at least have their sentences reduced in Qatar. On the other hand, Qatar also is not in an easy space given the seriousness of the charges against the men. Any quick end to this episode is unlikely, and it remains to be seen how India and Qatar deal with this issue while maintaining friendly bilateral ties. – The writer is Executive Editor of Nrifocus.com