The two-day visit of the Emir of Qatar to India will further boost the bilateral ties between two historically friendly nations, relations between India with GCC countries especially with Qatar are centuries old, India and Qatar have decided to upgrade the ties to the strategic partnership in several areas, the bilateral trade and relationship between them has been on an upswing which indicates the healthy status of bilateral ties which is being aimed to double trade by 28 billion by 2030. The Qatar Investment Authority (QIA) is a sovereign wealth fund, which has US $526 billion in assets under its management.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who broke the established protocol by personally receiving The Emir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al-Thani at the airport.

Qatar is a significant strategic importance player in the Middle East, beyond having a large reserves of oil and gas, its increasing role as a mediator and key interlocutor in the conflicts has further signifies its importance, it provides refuge to top Hamas leadership, Taliban has a office in Qatar beside the Indian expatriate community in Qatar, is 830,000 strong which plays a pivotal role in the country's development and serves as a vital bridge between the two nations.

Visit of the Emir of Qatar holds a great significance as current global volatility requires better cooperation and stability among nations, especially among regional players, for energy security, and India’s desire for stability in the Gulf region.

Today, when the world is filled with many territorial wars, This is the right time for India and Qatar to work towards bringing peace in these conflict zones like Hamas and Israel as both countries have good equations and are trusted by Qatar Emir and Indian leaderships led by Modi India. This visit of Qatar Emir has heralded a new era of friendship, which will further boost trade, cooperation, and peace at a time when economic concerns and regional stability dictate are of the foremost importance in the formation of political alliances.

Ramesh G jethwani is a Veteran writer, Voracious reader, Historian and commentator who has been writing in 21 newspapers in India and GCC countries for several decades on various subjects of importance.
His website.www: rameshjethwani.com.

This is regarding your editorial about US President Barack Obama’s visit to India. Yes, this is more of a business trip with Obama himself acting as CEO of 200 large American companies. US economy is in the doldrums. Politically also the US is facing difficult times with two unfinished wars and the threat of terrorism. Hence it is more important for India to analyze what is best in its interests. As things stand now the US needs India more than India needs the US. Indian economy is booming.

The US wants business tie-ups with Indian companies. This will create more jobs for Americans. Hence it is most imperative that India should take this opportunity to further its economic and strategic interests.

Sir, Apropos "Modi breaks protocol" (DH, Jan 25). The three-day visit of the crown prince of Abu Dhabi Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan to India as the chief guest of honour at the 68th Republic Day marks a further improvement of relations between India and the GCC countries. A highlight of this visit is the participation of the UAE army contingent in the parade. UAE is India's third largest trading partner.

Today, the GCC is Looking East for its strategic investments, and it will bank upon India as a safe destination. So, the visit of the crown prince will further boost our ties in an era where economic imperatives dictate political alliances.

The UAE is India's third largest trading partner This refers to the editorial, “New India-UAE warmth” (January 25). The three-day visit of the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, to India as the chief guest at the Republic Day event, marks an extraordinary movement of relations between the India and the Arab Gulf countries, and in particular the United Arab Emirates. Another highlight that enhances the India-UAE friendship is the participation of a UAE contingent at the Republic Day parade. Now, security is a major area of cooperation between India and the UAE, as even the Gulf countries are taking seriously the danger posed by the Islamic States.

India's historical relations with the Gulf region, especially with the UAE, date back to 5,000 years. They were cemented when maritime trade started in small Arab dhows across the Arabian waters. The UAE is home to 2.6 million Indians who remit about $12 billion dollars back home. The UAE is India's third largest trading partner and the sixth largest source of oil imports.

Sir - Narendra Modi displayed his political maturity by receiving the prime minister of Bangladesh, Sheikh Hasina Wajed, at the airport during the latter's visit to India ("Gesture for Hasina, gentle nudge to CM", April 8). By doing this, the Indian prime minister broke protocol, but conveyed to Bangladesh the importance New Delhi attaches to its relations with Dhaka. Before Wajed, Modi had received only Republic-Day chief guests at the airport.

India and Bangladesh share close cultural ties. The two countries are now trying to improve their economic relations as well. One hopes that a water-sharing deal with regard to Teesta will be inked soon. The Teesta is the only sore point in an otherwise excellent relationship. If India has to compromise a little to settle the Teesta dispute, it should not hesitate. This would strengthen Wajid's hands domestically.

She has been a real friend of India. Wajed has taken on terrorists and their patrons in Bangladesh to assuage New Delhi's concerns over the growth of terrorism in the neighbourhood.

President Obama’s visit to India is more of a business trip headed by Obama himself acting as CEO of 200 large American companies, as the US economy is in serious trouble and has not come out from the 2008 recession. Hence it is more important for India to analyse what is in its best interests, as in the current scenario, the US needs India more than India needs the US.

The Indian economy is booming and it’s clear Obama wants to create jobs in the US by having strategic business tie-ups with Indian companies.

Saudi Arabia and other Gulf nations have now a "Look East" policy and in this context they are looking for new avenues for their investments and India is one country they can always bank on. It has political stability and independent judiciary. Saudi Arabia is home to 1.8 million Indians. They send home some $3 billion.

We hope this landmark visit will strengthen centuries-old historical and cultural ties and promote more stability in the region by adding a political dimension to the existing ties.

This refers to the editorial, “Jointly fighting jihadis” (September 5). Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi's recent visit to India adds momentum to the strong relations between the two countries. India has developed good ties with Egypt from the days of Gamal Abdel Nasser, though in the past few years, not much was done to enhance these ties. Like India, Egypt has suffered terrorism and has been at the forefront in fight against terrorism.

We should remember that Egypt is the heart and mind of the Arab world. Egypt, with 89 millions consumers, is the second largest economy. It has immense potential for cooperation in all sectors like manufacturing, exporting, information technologyey etc. Egypt can partner with India and jointly work in third countries.

It is, therefore, imperative that India should take this opportunity to further its economic and strategic ties with Egyp. This is an era when economic imperative dictates political cooperation.

Sir,This refers to the editorial, “An India-Germany axis” (October 7). German Chancellor Angela Merkel’s visit to India will further consolidate stronger, political and economic relations between India and Germany. Germany is India’s largest trading partner and the seventh largest foreign investor.

Also, Germany has a high-tech manufacturing sector, which will assist in areas such as smart cities, Clean Ganga project and waste management. The controversy related to teaching German language in schools in India has been successfully solved. Now the Union Government should hasten steps to up the German investment.

Sir,Apropos"India assures unwavering support to Palestine cause(DH,17h), India has been one of the strongest supporters of Palestine cause outside the Arab world.India with its conviction born out of its own fight against British empire,has always stood firmly behind the Palestine struggle.

Today, Palestine and Israel need a honest peacemaker, India with its growing international influence can take up this responsibility under the leadership of PM narender Modi.

Sir, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's visit to India, with business delegation representing big Turkish companies, couldn't have been better timed as both countries look to enhance relations, principally economic cooperation. Turkey is among West Asia's largest free market economies, driven by its industry and service sector. In fact, its infrastructure companies have vast experience in developing mega-infrastructure projects successfully.

Turkey, under Erdogan, seems to be playing an active role to contain the IS menace in the region. Recent terror attacks in Ankara and Istanbul airport have been eye-openers. Turkey has got excellent ground intelligence on IS which it can share with India. In particular, it could help track down Indians who many have taken the Turkish route to IS strongholds in Syria and Iraq.

It is imperative that India take this opportunity to boost its strategic ties with Turkey. This is an era when economic imperative dictates political cooperation.

Sir,This refers to the editorial, “Standing by Palestine” (May 18). India and Palestine have historically enjoyed brotherly ties. India has been one of the strongest supporters of Palestine outside the Arab world. India, with its conviction borne out of its own fight against British empire, has always stood firmly behind the Palestine struggle. As per Mahatma Gandhi, “Palestine belongs to the Arabs in the same sense that England belongs to the English or France to the French. It is wrong and inhuman to impose the Jews on the Arabs...Surely it would be a crime against humanity to reduce the proud Arabs so that Palestine can be restored to the Jews partly or wholly as their national home.” Even Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat, greatly respected India for its unwavering support to Palestine.

Palestine President Mahmoud Abbas has rightly said, that India is a friend of Palestinian people, hence there is growing possibility of India playing a crucial role which can lead to comprehensive solution to Palestine’s decades-long issue with Israel.

Today, Palestine and Israel need an honest peace-maker, which india can become under the dynamic leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Barack Obama couldn’t do it in his two-term presidency, but Modi can.

Dear Sir, With reference to the news “Modi meets Abbas, renews support to Palestine cause” (Gulf Times, May 17), I would like to say India and Palestine have enjoyed brotherly ties historically. India has been one of the strongest supporters of the Palestinian cause outside the Arab world. India with its conviction born out of its own fight against the British empire, always stood firmly behind the Palestinians’ struggle.

Mahatma Gandhi was of the view that Palestine belonged to the Arabs as France belonged to the French. India wants to see a sovereign, independent and a viable Palestinian state which co-exists peacefully with Israel. Even the late Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat greatly respected India for its unwavering support to the cause.

Palestine President Mahmoud Abbas, who recently visited New Delhi, has rightly said that India had been a long-standing friend of the Palestinian people. Today, India has influence at the international level and New Delhi enjoys the trust of the Arab world from the Gulf to Maghreb. Hence there is a growing possibility of India playing a crucial role and participating in the next round of Middle East peace talks, which can lead to a comprehensive solution to this decades-old problem. In fact, this problem deserves to be solved at the earliest.

Today, Palestine and Israel need a honest peace broker, which India can provide under the dynamic leadership of its Prime Minister Narendra Modi.