Emir of Qatar to visit India; LNG, crude oil supply on agenda

NEW DELHI: Key strategic bilateral issues, including import of larger quantities LNG, crude oil and LPG and status on the reported move of Taliban opening its office in Qatar are expected to be taken up by India during the visit of Qatari Emir here on Sunday.

Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, Emir of Qatar, will pay a state visit to India from April 8-10 and would be accompanied by his wife Sheikha Mozah bint Nasser Al Missned, a high-level ministerial delegation, senior officials and businessmen, Ministry of External Affairs said here.

Apart from meeting President Pratibha Patil, who is hosting a banquet in his honour, the Emir will will hold bilateral talks with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

According to sources, the issue of supply of larger quantities of LPG, crude oil and LNG from Qatar, which has the world's third-largest natural gas reserves after Russia and Iran, will be taken up during the visit. Qatar is the largest supplier of LNG to India.

They said India would also like to know the "status of affairs" of reports of the Taliban proposing to open a political office in Qatar.

According to reports earlier this year, the Taliban have said they are prepared to open a political office in Qatar for the purpose of negotiations "with the international community", a step seen as paving the way for direct peace talks to end a decade of war in Afghanistan.

"The visit of the Emir is expected to provide further impetus to our multifaceted engagement," official spokesperson in MEA said.

This is the third visit of the Emir to India, the last two being in 1999 and 2005.