NEW DELHI: In a rare honour for a visiting head of state, PM Narendra Modi received the Qatar Amir, Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al-Thani, at the airport. This is the first visit by the Amir to India in nine years.
Al-Thani joined a select group of people, which includes former US President Barak Obama, Donald Trump during his first presidency, former Japanese PM Shinzo Abe and UAE President Mohamed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, who have been given that honour by Modi.
In a major reprieve for India last year, Al-Thani had pardoned eight Indian Navy veterans who had been arrested by Qatari authorities for military espionage. While seven have come back to India, one is yet to return.
Commander Purnendu Tiwari (retd) is still in Qatar apparently because of a travel ban. The eight men had been sentenced to death but later had it commuted to imprisonment. After their release, Modi had travelled to Doha for a bilateral visit during which he thanked Al-Thani for the pardon.
“Went to the airport to welcome my brother, Amir of Qatar H H Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al-Thani. Wishing him a fruitful stay in India and looking forward to our meeting tomorrow,” Modi posted on X, shortly after he greeted Al-Thani with a hug at the airport.
The two countries are expected to discuss ways to enhance cooperation in trade, investment, technology, culture, energy and people-to-people contacts.
Modi and Al-Thani will also discuss regional and global issues, including the Gaza situation where Qatar is making efforts to salvage the ceasefire.