Followed By Pakistan, Qatar Releases 23 Indian Prisoners Post Modi's Doha Visit

Right after the news broke out where Pakistan had released 18 fishermen as a goodwill gesture, PM Modi's Doha visit resulted in the release of 23 Indian prisoners in Qatar.

Modi, who had taken up the issue of welfare of Indians here with the leadership of Qatar, expressed gratitude to Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani for this gesture that coincided with the start of holy month of Ramadan.

"A special gesture to mark the start of a special month...the Government of Qatar releases 23 prisoners, who will return home to India," the Prime Minister tweeted.

"My deepest gratitude to the Emir of Qatar for the gesture," he said in another tweet.

According to officials, the Prime Minister had been assured by the Emir that Qatar will take care of Indian diaspora whose population is about 6.3 lakh. The release comes close on the heels of Modi's two-day visit here.

India and Qatar on Sunday signed seven agreements, including on investment and tourism promotion, as the two sides discussed ways to take bilateral ties beyond the current normal trading relationship. Prime Minister Narendra Modi led delegation-level talks with the Qatari leadrship, as well as holding restricted meetings with Emir Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al Thani and Qatar Prime Minister Abdullah Bin Nasser Bin Khalifa Al Thani.

"The main issues that were discussed, first of course, the Indian community's welfare. The Prime Minister thanked them (the Qatari leadership) for taking care of them (Indian community) plus their security and their general welfare," Amar Sinha, Secretary (Economic Relations) in the Ministry of External Affairs, said at a media briefing here following the day's official engagements.

"Second issue of critical importance was how we could partner together in investments and go beyond this trading relationship," Sinha said.

The two sides also discussed opportunities in India like the railways bond, smart cities, and asset reconstruction and possibilities of getting FDI into these sectors. On the political front, according to the Secretary, both sides expressed happiness at the level of high-level visits with Modi coming to Qatar just 14 months after the Emir's visit to India.

"But both sides felt that there is a need to raise the level of annual consultation and so in principle we have decided to form what we call high-level committee both for follow-up and review as well as for charting the path forward," Sinha said.

The issue of security and terrorism also came up for discussion. "They also realised that terror does hold a threat for both of us," the Secretary said, adding that Qatar was part of India's extended neighbourhood. The two countries also issued a joint statement in which both sides agreed to address the menace of global terrorism through a comprehensive approach to stop flow of foreign terrorists, dismantle terrorist infrastructures and counter-terror propaganda through internet, among other things.