ISLAMABAD: India and Israel have signed a major defence pact apparently aimed at sharing advanced military technologies and promoting co-development of sophisticated weapon systems — a move that has raised serious concerns in the region over the growing militarization and strategic imbalance in South Asia.
The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), signed in Tel Aviv following a meeting of the India-Israel Joint Working Group (JWG) on defence cooperation, is being seen as yet another step in the deepening strategic alignment between New Delhi and Tel Aviv, particularly in the realms of defence technology, intelligence sharing, and cyber warfare.
According to India’s defence ministry, the MoU seeks to provide a “unified vision and policy direction” to further enhance already robust bilateral defence cooperation.
The agreement covers areas including artificial intelligence, cyber security, research and development, and co-production of military hardware — sectors that could significantly bolster India’s offensive and surveillance capabilities.
However, defence analysts in Pakistan view the development with concern, warning that such pacts could further destabilize the regional security environment. “India’s continued military modernization with external support, especially from Israel, threatens to disturb the fragile strategic balance in South Asia,” said a senior security official in Islamabad. “This partnership has clear implications for Pakistan’s national security and the broader regional stability.”
India and Israel have a long-standing defence partnership, with Tel Aviv emerging as one of India’s top arms suppliers in recent years. Israel has provided India with advanced drone technology, missile defence systems, and electronic warfare capabilities — all of which have enhanced New Delhi’s military edge.
Observers in Islamabad note that the latest MoU comes amid rising tensions and an arms buildup in the region. They argue that such agreements, under the pretext of defence cooperation, are likely to embolden India’s aggressive posturing, particularly along its borders with Pakistan and China.
Pakistan, which maintains close defence ties with China and Turkey, has consistently emphasized the need for regional arms restraint and dialogue-based conflict resolution.
Experts stress that continued Indo-Israeli defence cooperation risks fueling a new arms race in South Asia, diverting resources from socio-economic development toward militarization.
Both India and Israel have cited “shared security challenges,” including terrorism, as a key reason for the agreement. Yet critics say such rhetoric often serves to justify policies that exacerbate insecurity and mistrust among neighboring states.
