India’s sordid designs, driven by a complex interplay of motives, cast a wide net that spares neither its adversaries nor its allies from their embrace.
While the arrest of any Indian spy on Pakistani soil would not be surprising, given the well-established fact that the arch-rival does not wish for peace and stability in the neighbouring country, the arrest of eight retired Indian Naval Officers in Qatar a few months back, serves as a poignant illustration that nobody is safe from its snare. It merits mention here that India boasts of a strong partnership across diverse fields with the oil-rich country.
This incident stands as a stark reminder that India’s malevolent designs know no bounds. The former Indian Navy personnel currently undergoing a trial in Qatar have been charged with the offence of spying for Israel on the country’s advanced submarines. Qatar is procuring U212 advanced submarines capable of avoiding radar detection. Notably, this acquisition will render Qatar the second nation, following Iran to operate submarines in the Arabian Gulf, a development that undoubtedly raises concerns in Israel which wants to maintain its upper hand in the region.
Thus, it can be argued that the Indian officers spied on Qatar’s submarine project at the behest of the Indian intelligence agency, while Israel was the ultimate beneficiary. The fact of the matter is that this is not the only incident where Indian spies were apprehended on foreign land; there have been incidents in the past where Indian nationals, including military personnel, were arrested on espionage charges.
One such incident occurred in 2014 when the United Arab Emirates (UAE) arrested and later convicted two Indians for providing sensitive information about the UAE to Indian intelligence. It was proved that convicted spies were in contact with officers from the Indian embassy in UAE. Similarly, in 2019, a German court convicted an Indian couple living in Germany of spying. The couple confessed their affiliation with Indian RAW and acknowledged gathering and supplying information about Kashmiri and Sikh individuals residing in Germany to the Indian intelligence agency.
True to past practice, the Indian media is actively disseminating disinformation to obscure the matter surrounding the arrest of its retired personnel in Qatar. For instance, it is insisting that the charges framed against the individuals have not been confirmed by the Qatari authorities but the fact is quite the contrary. It is true that at the time of the arrest, Qatari authorities did not disclose the charges. However, later, they were charged for spying and the Indian authorities were also informed about the digital evidence of espionage for Israel. Additionally, the media’s portrayal of arrested individuals as elderly veterans facing health issues is an attempt to evoke sympathy and potentially secure a pardon from the Qatari Emir.
The aftermath of this incident on Indian-Qatari relations remains uncertain. However, it solidifies the notion that India, particularly under its current administration led by Modi, cannot be a reliable ally for Muslim nations.
While India may seek to cultivate economic and strategic alliances in the Gulf region, it’s essential for Arab nations to exercise caution, especially whilst building defence and security cooperation with a country that can be an enemy in the guise of a friend.
The arrest of spies in Qatar serves as a cautionary tale against taking friendship at face value, urging a thorough exploration of the complex undercurrents shaping global partnerships. In the ever-shifting landscape of international relations, the mirage of friendship can often obscure the presence of covert agendas that may undermine trust and security.
