Qatar’s “String of Misbaha” policy is a deliberate, multi-pronged strategy to expand its geopolitical and ideological influence across the Muslim world through ideological alignment, targeted investments, and political support.

Qatar, driven by this policy, has already been making strategic investments in Turkey, Somalia, and Gaza, with Bangladesh as its latest target. The implications of this policy are profound, not only for Bangladesh’s domestic trajectory but also for India’s security and strategic interests in South Asia.

“String of Misbaha”: Name origin and significance

The term “String of Misbaha” stands parallel to China’s “String of Pearls” maritime strategy, which focuses on developing strategic ports in the Indian Ocean. Qatar’s approach, however, emphasizes Islamic ideology, with the “misbaha” (Islamic prayer beads) metaphor representing the religious and interconnected nature of its strategy, where each “bead” symbolizes a nation linked through ideological or political ties.

This term is a recent creation by analysts to articulate Qatar’s evolving foreign policy, particularly as its efforts to expand influence became increasingly apparent in various Middle Eastern and North African nations from the early to mid-2010s.

Strategic aims

Through its string policy, Qatar seeks to implement a threefold strategy that includes promoting its ideology, increasing its regional influence, and broadening its soft power to foster goodwill with allied nations. The primary focus is on backing groups or leaders who advocate for political Islam rather than secular or nationalist options, consistent with Qatar’s conservative Islamist beliefs. Concurrently, Qatar aims to diminish the influence of regional competitors, particularly Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Egypt.

The Tools of Influence

Qatar employs a multifaceted strategy, combining financial leverage, political engineering, media power, and educational and religious outreach.

• Islamic Charities & Funding: Qatar-based NGOs (like Qatar Charity) have funded madrassas, mosques, and community centers in Bangladesh, particularly in rural and coastal areas.

• Salafi/Wahhabi Outreach: Some funding has been linked with promoting conservative Islamic doctrines, subtly shifting Bangladesh’s traditionally moderate Islamic culture.

• Media & Education: Influence through scholarships, Arabic language training, and Qatar-sponsored media outlets promotes alignment with Gulf religious values.

The country invests heavily in aid, infrastructure, and direct support for political figures; engages in election financing; and sometimes supports regime changes to sway political outcomes. A crucial part of this strategy is the use of Al Jazeera and other Qatari media, which help shape narratives and public perception in favor of Qatar’s allies and diplomatic goals. Additionally, Qatar builds mosques, Islamic centers, and educational programs to enhance its soft power and spread its ideology across the Muslim world.

Key Countries in the “String”

Turkey is central to the “String” strategy, where Qatar has forged a close alliance with President Erdoğan and the ruling AKP, characterized by mutual support for the Muslim Brotherhood and various Islamist initiatives, alongside substantial political and economic collaboration.

In Somalia, Qatar has invested heavily, backing political candidates and factions aligned with its interests, influencing elections and governance in favor of Islamist actors.

In Gaza, Qatar is recognized as a principal financial supporter of Hamas, offering humanitarian assistance, funding for infrastructure, and political backing to the Islamist organization that administers the region, which has often attracted criticism from other Gulf nations.

Controversies and challenges

The String policy has led to considerable strains in relations with Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Egypt, and Bahrain due to allegations that Qatar is destabilizing the region by supporting Islamist movements, which resulted in the diplomatic blockade of Qatar from 2017 to 2021. On the international stage, Qatar’s actions have faced criticism for purported connections to extremist organizations such as Hamas and Al Qaeda. Additionally, Qatar’s backing of radical Islamist factions in contemporary Bangladesh serves as another example.

Bangladesh: The Newest Bead on the String

Qatar has established strong relations with Bangladesh’s new interim government led by Muhammad Yunus, with Qatar’s prime minister affirming “full support for Bangladesh in achieving the aspirations of its people for development and prosperity.”

The government of Bangladesh has invited Qatari entrepreneurs to invest in the country’s economic zones. Qatar is facilitating technology transfer, energy sector cooperation, and even the recruitment of Bangladeshi soldiers to serve in Qatari forces. The Qatar Foundation is leading various social initiatives, including the enhancement of early childhood education. Additionally, the inaugural foreign office consultation between Qatar and Bangladesh is also reportedly expected in the first half of 2025.

However, the most notable aspect is the ideological shift. Under Yunus’ leadership, there has been a release of Islamist prisoners and a growing acceptance, or even implicit support, for radical Islamist factions such as Jamaat-e-Islami Bangladesh and Hefazat-e-Islam, which were previously marginalized or suppressed. This has led to increased attacks on religious minorities, liberals, and journalists, indicating a broader societal shift. Extremist groups such as Ansarullah Bangla Team, Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen Bangladesh, and Hizb ut-Tahrir are also gaining influence, reflecting a significant shift in Bangladesh’s socio-political landscape that aligns with Qatar’s support for the Muslim Brotherhood-Deobandi groups and conservative Islamist ideology. Islamic Charities & Funding: Qatar-based NGOs (like Qatar Charity) have funded madrassas, mosques, and community centers in Bangladesh, particularly in rural and coastal areas. Salafi/Wahhabi Outreach: Some funding has been linked with promoting conservative Islamic doctrines, subtly shifting Bangladesh’s traditionally moderate Islamic culture.

Implications for India

Qatar’s ‘String of Misbaha’ initiative, aimed at promoting Islamist ideology throughout the Indian Ocean, is in direct conflict with India’s objectives of ensuring stability and influence in this maritime area. Qatar’s backing of conservative Islamist factions is likely to escalate cross-border militancy and undermine India’s counterterrorism strategies.

The recent inclusion of Bangladesh, India’s neighboring country, into this ‘string’—characterized by a decline in secular governance and support for Islamist ideologies—heightens concerns regarding cross-border radicalization, communal tensions, and refugee influxes into India’s vulnerable northeastern regions.

As late as December 2024 and January 2025, Assam Police’s Special Task Force (STF), under “Operation Praghat,” arrested multiple ABT operatives across Assam and West Bengal, including a Bangladeshi national, Md Sad Radi, sent specifically to recruit and radicalize Indian youths and establish sleeper cells. The reach of these groups extends further, as evidenced by the arrest of two Hizb ut-Tahrir terrorists in Tamil Nadu in February 2025, who were found propagating radical ideology and plotting to wage violent jihad against the Indian state.

Beyond security, the strengthening of Bangladesh-Qatar ties could also erode India’s traditional leverage in Dhaka, complicating bilateral cooperation on trade, water sharing, and regional connectivity.

Conclusion

Qatar’s “String of Misbaha” policy is aimed at projecting power and shaping the political and ideological landscape across the Muslim world in alignment with Qatar’s own vision. With Bangladesh now firmly integrated into this ‘String,’ Qatar’s influence is poised to deepen regional complexities, particularly for India, which faces heightened security and diplomatic challenges as a result. As Qatar continues to expand its network, the ripple effects of its ambitions will be felt not just in the Middle East but across South Asia and beyond, demanding vigilant responses from affected nations.