Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has cautioned his country over the deepening military and defence ties between India and Israel, framing the partnership as a potential strategic threat to Islamabad’s security interests.
The warning underscores longstanding Pakistani concerns about India’s expanding defence relationships with Western and regional powers. Israel and India have built a robust defence partnership over the past two decades, encompassing intelligence sharing, joint exercises, and significant arms transfers.
India-Israel defence cooperation spans multiple domains. The two nations conduct regular joint naval exercises in the Indian Ocean. Israel supplies critical defence systems to the Indian military, including the Harop loitering munition, Barak air defence systems, and radar and surveillance platforms. Indian defence research institutions and Israeli aerospace firms have also explored collaborative development in missile guidance systems and unmanned platforms.
India’s strategic calculus in strengthening ties with Israel reflects its broader foreign policy positioning. As New Delhi faces security challenges from Pakistan and balances its relationship with the United States and other partners, Israel offers advanced defence technology and operational experience in counterterrorism and air operations that aligns with Indian security requirements.
The Israeli connection also serves India’s Defence Modernisation objectives. Israeli firms have supported Indian public sector undertakings in upgrading legacy platforms and integrating modern avionics and fire control systems. This cooperation complements India’s own DRDO-led development programmes in missiles, radars, and combat systems.
Pakistan has historically viewed external military partnerships with India as destabilising. Islamabad itself maintains defence relationships with China, Turkey, and Saudi Arabia to balance Indian capabilities. The country’s concerns about Israel-India cooperation reflect asymmetries in defence spending and technological advancement that Pakistan perceives as widening.
India’s defence posture toward Israel remains calibrated. While military-to-military ties are substantive, New Delhi has maintained diplomatic engagement with Arab states and Iran, balancing its strategic autonomy with regional sensitivities. India does not participate in Israeli military operations and maintains principled positions on Palestinian issues in international forums.
The Defence Minister’s statement reflects Pakistan’s vulnerability to technological gaps in Indian military capabilities. As India modernises its armed forces through indigenous platforms like the Tejas fighter jet, Arjun main battle tank, and indigenously-developed missile systems, Pakistan faces pressure to acquire advanced systems to maintain strategic stability in South Asia.
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