NEW DELHI – Prime Minister Narendra Modi made a big diplomatic step by calling Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al-Thani on Wednesday, the Emir of Qatar, to tell him how “deeply concerned” he was about the recent Israeli strikes in Doha, the capital of Qatar. The strikes, which killed six people and hit an area with foreign embassies and schools, were an effort to kill the leaders of the Palestinian militant group Hamas.
“Spoke with Amir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al-Thani and expressed deep concern at the attacks in Doha,” PM Modi said in a tweet on X (previously Twitter). India is against the breach of Qatar’s sovereignty, which is a sister state.
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) had also released a statement the day before, expressing “deep concerns” about the situation and how it would affect security in the region. Modi’s direct contact with the Qatari leader strengthens India’s position on the issue and shows how important the India-Qatar friendship is.
Modi’s statement on X also repeated India’s general position on peace and stability in the region. He remarked, “We support resolving problems through conversation and diplomacy and staying out of trouble.” “India is firmly against all forms of terrorism and for peace and stability in the region.”
The world community has strongly denounced Israel’s attacks on Doha. Qatar, which is an important mediator in the talks to end the fighting in Gaza, has condemned the attack a “cowardly assault” and a “flagrant violation of all international laws and norms.” The US has also distanced itself from the operation. The office of President Donald Trump called it a “wholly independent Israeli operation” that “does not advance Israel or America’s goals.”
The Israeli military has acknowledged that the attacks were “precise strikes targeting the senior leadership of the Hamas terrorist organization.” Hamas, on the other hand, says that its top officials escaped the attack.
Modi’s talk with the Emir of Qatar shows that India wants to calm things down in the Middle East and is strongly against measures that undermine the sovereignty of friendly countries. The two leaders also talked about their strategic alliance and said they wanted to work together further in a number of areas.