Senior government sources told News18 that apart from acknowledging Qatar’s cooperation in the release of eight imprisoned Indian Navy personnel, Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Doha is also important from an energy security perspective.

Prime Minister Modi met Qatari Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani in Doha on Wednesday to discuss ways to strengthen relations between the two countries. Modi arrived in Doha on Wednesday evening for an official visit to Qatar. This is the Prime Minister’s second visit to Qatar, the first being in June 2016.

India announced Modi’s visit to the Qatari capital on Monday, hours after seven of eight jailed former Indian navy personnel returned home, nearly three-and-a-half months after a Qatari court sentenced them to death and later commuted their sentences to jail terms. It ranges from 3 years to 25 years.

Qatar releases all eight Indians. The former Indian navy personnel apparently face espionage charges, but neither Qatari authorities nor New Delhi have made the charges against them public.

“Qatar will be an important partner for India. The Prime Minister’s visit is very important for India’s diplomacy and energy security. Qatar has huge natural gas storage capacity for the next 25-30 years, which is very important for India’s green energy commitments,” a said a senior official.

“We get fertilizers from Qatar, where 600,000 Indians work. More importantly, this visit recognizes Qatar’s obligation to release Indian naval personnel,” the official added.

During his two-day visit, Prime Minister Modi attended a dinner hosted in his honor by the Prime Minister of Qatar. On Thursday, the prime minister will meet Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani and hold talks on bilateral as well as regional and global issues.