Doha, Feb 15:
Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Qatar’s capital Doha on Wednesday night and met his counterpart Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani. The duo discussed ways to bolster ties between India and Qatar and PM Modi said he had a “wonderful” meeting. PM Modi is scheduled to meet the Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, and hold talks on bilateral as well as regional and global issues, the external affairs ministry said in a press release.
PM Modi is in Doha after a two-day trip to the UAE, where he attended the World Governments Summit, inaugurated UAE’s first Hindu stone temple and addressed a diaspora event. Speaking at the World Government Summit in Dubai, PM Modi asserted that the “world today needs inclusive governments, which take everyone along and are clean and free from corruption.”
Notably, Modi’s visit to Qatar comes after seven out of eight jailed former Indian Navy personnel were sent back to India, three-anad-half months after a Qatari court imposed a death sentence and later commuted to imprisonment of three to 25 years.
After he arrived in Doha, Modi posted that he was looking forward to a fruitful visit that would deepen bilateral ties.
“Landed in Doha. Looking forward to a fruitful Qatar visit which will deepen India-Qatar friendship,” Modi wrote on X.
He also thanked the Indian diaspora in Doha for the exceptional welcome. An exceptional welcome in Doha! Grateful to the Indian diaspora, he said on X and shared pictures of him being greeted by an enthusiastic Indian diaspora.
Modi reached Doha after a whirlwind two-day trip to the UAE, where he addressed a well-attended Indian diaspora event, the prestigious World Governments Summit, and also inaugurated UAE’s first Hindu stone temple among other engagements.
