Indian Prime Minister Modis Israel Visit Impacts Pakistans National Security

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi Visits Israel, Strengthening Strategic Ties

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Tel Aviv on Wednesday for his second visit to Israel, marking a significant development in the country’s strategic relations with the Middle Eastern nation. Modi was greeted by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who is facing an International Criminal Court arrest warrant and has been involved in a contentious war in Gaza.

In the days leading up to Modi’s visit, Netanyahu announced a proposed regional framework, dubbed the “hexagon of alliances,” which would bring together India, Greece, Cyprus, and unnamed Arab, African, and Asian states. The framework aims to counter perceived threats from radical Shia and Sunni axes.

Modi’s visit has strengthened India’s strategic ties with Israel, with the two countries set to discuss defense, artificial intelligence, quantum computing, and cybersecurity. A new classified framework is expected to facilitate exports of previously restricted military hardware to India, including Israel’s Iron Beam high-energy laser weapon.

Analysts say that Modi’s visit could reshape Islamabad’s strategic calculus in the region, given Pakistan’s formalized Strategic Mutual Defence Agreement with Saudi Arabia. Masood Khan, a former Pakistani ambassador, noted that the proposed agreement could be seen as a counterpart to the one signed by Pakistan and Saudi Arabia last year.

The India-Israel relationship has accelerated since Modi’s 2017 visit, with India now Israel’s largest arms customer. Cooperation on defense technology transfer for local manufacturing is also under consideration. Masood Khalid, a former Pakistani ambassador to China, pointed out that Israeli drones were used in the India-Pakistan conflict against Pakistan last year.

Netanyahu’s hexagon proposal remains undefined, but both governments have emphasized the importance of strengthening their bilateral relationship at a time when they face criticism for their actions.

Source: Al Jazeera