Meet Sultan Qaboos of Oman who helped rescue Father Tom Uzhunnalil from Yemen

The ordeal of Father Tom Uzhunnalil, the Vatican priest who was abducted in Yemen in March last year, is finally over. Uzhunnalil was finally rescued from captivity in Yemen after spending over 550 days in captivity.

After his release, the father Sultan Qaboos Bin Said of Oman who played an instrumental role in negotiating his release. Sultan Qaboos was reportedly in constant touch with parties from Yemen as well as India’s Ministry of External Affairs during the negotiations.

The release of Father Uzhunnalil only confirms a reputation Sultan Qaboos’ reputation as a saviour of people taken as hostages in strife-torn areas. For instance, Qaboos’ intervention led to the release of three American hikers jailed in Iran on espionage charges. This in fact served as one of the confidence building measure that led to the rapproachment between the United States and Iran.

Some of the other hostages rescued through Sultan Qaboos’ efforts include Canadian national Dr Homa Hoodfar who had been imprisoned in Iran and was released in September 2016. In the same year, he also helped secure the release of unidentified hostages from Germany and Australia, who were being held captive by rebels in Yemen.

In a region that is marked by bitter geo-political rivalries, Sultan Qaboos stands out as a rare statesman, one who never hesitates to play peacemaker.

This was best exemplified by the role he played in bringing the United States and Iran on the negotiating table, ending decades of hostile relations between the two sides. The negotiations eventually culminated in the landmark Iran-US nuclear deal in 2015.

Despite being close to the US and part of the Gulf Cooperation Council along with Saudi Arabia and other Arab states, Oman managed to maintain cordial relations with Iran. It must be remembered that the GCC has actively been opposed to Iran.

This unique neutral position that Oman has occupied under Sultan Qaboos has enabled the country to play the role of a peacemaker in the region.  

During the negotiations between Iran and the US, Qaboos even played host to both the sides, an act that almost jeopardised its relations with other GCC members.