India pulled strings in Qatar to free priest

India pulled strings in Qatar to secure the release of Jesuit priest Father Alexis Prem Kumar, who was held hostage by Taliban in Afghanistan for eight months.

New Delhi also received support from the US and Afghan governments in informal negotiations with the Taliban through contacts in Qatar. National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval led New Delhi’s efforts to get the priest released.

Prem Kumar was abducted by Taliban at Heart province of Afghanistan in June last. He returned to New Delhi on Sunday, shortly after Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted to reveal that the priest’s eight-month-long ordeal had ended.

The government, however, remained tight-lipped about the quid pro quo New Delhi agreed to for securing Prem Kumar’s release.

Doval was in constant touch with India’s ambassador to Afghanistan, Amar Sinha, over the past few months and kept the prime minister posted on the matter.

Sources told Deccan Herald that a breakthrough appeared possible when Doval quietly visited Qatar’s top leadership in Doha on February 11.

Doval called on Qatar’s Emir (ruler) Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani and presented him a letter from Modi. He also called on Qatar’s Prime Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser Al Thani, who also holds the interior affairs portfolio. The government officially maintained that the NSA’s visit to Doha was to convey an invitation from Modi to the Emir of Qatar for an early visit to India.

Sources, however, said that the visit was a part of New Delhi’s attempt to prod Doha to use its influence over Taliban leadership in Afghanistan.

Doha is now home to several top Taliban leaders, including Mullah Abdual Salam Zaif and Qari Din Mohammad. Qatar also allowed Taliban to set up an office at the capital of the tiny oil-rich country, ostensibly to coordinate efforts to start peace talks with US and Afghan governments.

New Delhi has friendly ties with Doha, with Qatar being an important source of crude oil and natural gas for India. For Qatar, India is the fourth largest export market after Japan, South Korea and Singapore. New Delhi played host to former Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, in 2012.

Doval also met Qatar’s Foreign Minister Dr Khalid bin Mohammed Al Attiyah and discussed a number of “bilateral, regional and international issues of mutual interest”.

Sources said Doval had returned to New Delhi with assurances that Doha would do its bit to help secure the release of Prem Kumar.