Global embarrassment for India: former naval officer re-arrested in Qatar

India’s military and diplomatic standing has come under renewed scrutiny following the re-arrest of former Indian naval officer Purnandu Tiwari in Qatar, deepening an already damaging international controversy for the Modi government.

India’s Ministry of External Affairs has confirmed that Tiwari remains in Qatari custody. His case is linked to an earlier episode in which eight former Indian naval officers were arrested on serious espionage charges, an incident first reported by India’s own leading newspaper, The Indian Express. The case has since become a symbol of India’s weakening diplomatic leverage and growing global embarrassment.

In October 2023, a Qatari court sentenced the detained officers to death, a move that sent shockwaves through India. Despite what New Delhi described as “intensive diplomatic efforts,” Qatar refused to transfer the prisoners to Indian custody, exposing the limits of India’s influence even with friendly Gulf states.

Notably, ‘The Indian Express’ publication acknowledged that the episode has caused significant reputational damage to the Indian Army and raised uncomfortable questions about the government’s crisis-management capabilities. Critics argue that the Modi administration failed both to anticipate the fallout and to secure a meaningful resolution once the situation escalated.

Defense analysts have also pointed to deeper structural problems within India’s military establishment. Allegations of internal corruption and unprofessional training practices have long circulated, undermining claims of institutional excellence. The Qatar case has only reinforced these doubts, casting a shadow over India’s attempts to project itself as a disciplined and reliable military power.

As the crisis continues, the affair has become a serious stress test for India-Qatar relations and a stark reminder that global prestige cannot be sustained through rhetoric alone. For India’s military and political leadership, the episode represents not just a diplomatic setback, but a broader failure with international consequences.