Authorities in India were in shock when they heard about Qatar sentencing death penalty to eight former Indian naval officers on spying charges. They protested out for not making it officially clear about what actual charges are filed against these officers. But it has been very clear since years that how India has been involved inspying adventures in its neighbourhood and in the countries with which it projects to have good economic and cultural relations. From Sarabjit Singh to Kulbhushan Jadhav and planting spies to sending death squads from Canada to Qatar, India’s self-projected image of ‘shining India’, New Delhi is reprimanding its true picture to the world.
On October 26, Qatar court announced death penalty to eight former Indian Navy personals including Captain Navtej Gill, Commander Sugunakar Pakala, Captain Saurabh Vashisht, Commander Purnendu Tiwari, Captain BK Verma, Commander Amit Nagpal, Commander SK Gupta, and Ragesh (sailor). They were arrested in August 2022 on accusation of spying for Israel and were refused bail. In 2021, Qatari Navy had signed an armed deal with Italian Shipyard, FincantieriSpA to construct two diesel-electric submarines. Qatari navy was trying to enhance the stealth capabilities of these submarines. The eight Indian naval personal, working for a private company Dahra Global that is owned by an Omani Air Force Officer Khamis al-Ajami, were overseeing the induction of aforementioned U212 stealth submarines. Qatari intelligence had intercepted an electronic communication by these officers transferring confidential data to Israel. India tried to use diplomatic channels for release of its Naval officers. New Delhi also tried to downplay the incident by portraying it as non-issue.
Not so late to mention Canada disinterring India’s snappy misadventure to kill a pro-Khalistan Canadian citizen, Hardeep Singh Nijjar. Canadian Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau mentioned that intelligence agencies have fundamental evidences of Indian involvement in killing the citizen. Although Indian government officials rejected the claims but other western countries including the US and UK has deliberately asked India to cooperate with Canada this time. Australia also supported the Canadian stance and asked India to look into its actions in other states.
India has taken quite a long to arduously promulgate a good image of the country through diversionary practices. From G20 Summit to BRICS Presidency, India has portrayed itself as a leader of Global South and an indispensable contributor to peace and stability in international community. But facts speak louder than words. At home, the Modi regime has bluntly indulged itself in supressing and ridiculing minorities, especially Muslims and Christians as reported by Hindutva Watch.
The recent episodes have seriously enfeebled India’s image across the world. Western countries have now shown concern about India’s irresponsible activities. What authorities in Qatar has done with former Indian officers is actually a very crucial move that may impact its relations with India. This is the first of its kind that any GCC country has taken such a strong action against India. In international relations, such strict actions are taken after immense calculation because countries’ bilateral relations could get affected and have higher possibility of facing aftershocks. If Qatar has taken action, after carefully investigating the recent India-Canada diplomatic row, it wants India to halt its illicit adventures.
India can no longer keep its dubious and hypocrite policies under cover. It has a history of indulging in internal affairs of other states for illicit activities to disturb peace and stability in that country and beyond, which is a sheer violation of international law. From Sarabjit Singh to Kashmir Singh to Kulbhushan Jadhav, these all Indian spies caught red handed in Pakistan for spreading instability and in terrorist activities. Pakistan, being a consistent victim of Indian sabotage activities, has continuously been asking the international community to take stern actions against this state-sponsored terrorism. International community, especially the western countries should take as strong action as needed against India, otherwise, Indian confidence could transform New Delhi’s spying and sabotage practices in other countries into a Frankenstein monster.It is high time that Pakistan should also consider implementing of death sentence, which was given by the military court to Kulbhushan Yadev in 2019. Further, Pakistan must share evidences of Indian spying and sabotage activities to the world by making an alliance with countries who have been affected by Indian unwanted interference in their internal affairs, such as Qatar and Canada.
The writer is a Research Associate at India Study Centre (ISC), ISSI. He is specializing in Indian affairs.
