Qatar and its Relation to India

Qatar and its Relation to India

The recent blockade and sanction imposed by major Arab countries from GCC leads to a blatant turmoil in west Asia. This is adding fire to currently burning West Asia with civil war and human rights violation. They accused Qatar on funding to terror groups and tried to destabilize their countries. But at the same time Qatar authorities refused the claim of others and opined it as baseless allegation to destruct the progressive enduring of Qatar.

Saudi Arabia, UAE, Bahrain, Egypt and Maldives are among opposing Qatar while Kuwait and Oman keeping neutrality.  It is clear that the diplomatic crisis in GCC council is after weeks of Trump’s meeting with Saudi Emir Salman of official visit of the American president, Donald Trump to Saudi Arabia.  The Saudi King had described the US presidents visit as “a turning point in relations between the two countries,”. Salman expressed his firm belief and told that U.S. and Saudi Arabia will advance to the “level of strengthening consultations, cooperation and coordination on all fronts.” The king additionally praised an “historic agreement” between the U.S. and Gulf nations to “take firm measures to target the financing of terrorism.”

The sanction may be affect Qatar’s industry and media. Currently the high profiling Qatar Airways has compelled to cut down its schedule of journey over the air space of Saudi Arabia and UAE. Now it run costly trip over Turkey and Iran. The shutdown of Qatar’s only land boarder by Saudi Arabia disrupted the food distribution system.

India’s and Qatar Crisis

Although major Arab countries put sanction over Qatar, India stands on its previous position in bilateral ties and welcomed negotiation for bringing  solution to put end to the current crisis.

India keep a warm relationship with Qatar economically, military and diplomatically. India and Qatar have signed five agreements including in the field of visas, cyberspace and investments. These agreements were signed after bilateral talks held between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Qatari counterpart Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa Al Thani in New Delhi.

Qatar is a big economic partner of India. Qatar export to India totaled $16.8 billion or 12.7% of its overall export in 2014. The highest valued export commodity is oil, of which $14.9 billion worth has been exported from Qatar to India.