India signs defence, security agreements with Qatar

Ammar Zaidi

Doha, Nov 10 (PTI) India and Qatar have signed landmark
defence and security agreements laying a framework for joint
maritime security and sharing of intelligence on threats posed
by extremists.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, who arrived here from
Muscat Sunday evening on the second leg of his three-day
maiden visit to the energy-rich Gulf region, held wide-ranging
delegation level talks with Prime Minister Sheikh Hamad bin
Jassim bin Jabor al Thani.

The talks resulted in two agreements on defence
cooperation and security as well as law enforcement matters.
The defence pact lays out a structure for joint maritime
security and training as well as exchange of visits, officials
said.

The security agreement would lay out the framework for
sharing of information and data base on threats posed by
extremists and other security and legal matters.

Prime Minister will meet Qatars Emir Sheikh Hamad bin
Khalifa al Thani this afternoon to hold wide-ranging
discussions.

Petroleum Minister Murli Deora, who joined the high level
delegation this morning, met Deputy Prime Minister and
Minister of Energy and Industry Abdullah bin Hamad al Attiyah
to discuss the possibility of importing an additional 2.5
million tons of liquefied natural gas (LNG) to meeting growing
energy needs back home.

India currently buys 5 million tonnes a year of LNG from
RasGas of Qatar under a long-term contract. The ex-ship price
of USD 2.53 per million British thermal unit (mmBtu) is
considered a 'steal' in current times when LNG prices are
breaching USD 20 per mmBtu.