Indian FM holds wide-range talks with Qatari counterpart in Delhi

Indian External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj on Saturday held wide-ranging talks with visiting Qatari Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohamed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani in the national capital.

Qatari Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohamed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani.

The two foreign ministers discussed bilateral issues of mutual interest, including the welfare of Indian workers in the Gulf nation, the Indian External Affairs Ministry said.

"EAM @SushmaSwaraj welcomes Mr Sheikh Mohamed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani, Foreign Minister of Qatar on his visit to India. Bilateral issues, including welfare of Indian workers in Qatar were discussed," Ministry spokesperson Raveesh Kumar tweeted.

Over 600,000 Indians work in Qatar.

The Qatari foreign minister arrived in the Indian capital Friday at a time when Doha is locked in a diplomatic stand-off with four Saudi Arabia-led Arab nations.

India has close ties with both Qatar and Saudi Arabia. While the former is India's largest gas supplier, Saudi Arabia is one of the biggest crude oil suppliers of this country.

(ASIA PACIFIC DAILY)