New Delhi, February 26 – The resolution passed by the Pakistani Senate condemning Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over remarks about forming regional alliances with India and other countries, is a clear sign that Islamabad is rattled.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is on a two-day visit to Israel, during which the focus has been on strengthening ties with Israel in the defence, trade, and security sectors.
India and Israel signed a security MoU which will bring the two countries together to co-develop weapon systems in India.
India's relations with Israel were elevated to the level of a strategic partnership during Prime Minister Modi's first visit to the country in July 2017.
The latest visit has further strengthened relations between the two countries.
The trust between Prime Minister Modi and Prime Minister Netanyahu has further strengthened ties between the two nations.
Experts say that Pakistan has reason to be upset and afraid over these developments.
On June 17, 1999, during the Kargil War, the Indian Air Force's Mirage-2000 targeted intruders from Pakistan in the Drass and Batalik sectors.
Israeli Litening pods were mounted on the Indian Mirage to hit targets using laser-guided bombs.
The strength of the defence ties between the two countries was also seen during both 'Operation Bandar' in Balakot and 'Operation Sindoor'.
India used Israeli loitering ammunition, laser-guided bombs, and guided missiles to blow up terrorist camps deep within Pakistan.
Since the Kargil War days, India has used Israeli drones such as Heron-TO and Searcher Mark 11.
The latest MoU that has been signed by both countries to co-develop weapon systems in India, has left Pakistan worried.
Pakistan watchers say that this has led to the rhetoric, which resulted in the resolution against Netanyahu being passed.
The resolution termed the alignment between India-Israel and other nations as a threat to regional peace and global stability.
Israel has been accused of forging blocs aimed at isolating Muslim-majority states.
This wasn't just at the senate, but there was also a frenzy in the Pakistani media. Prime-time debates focused on the India-Israel partnership.
The guests on the shows, such as Chairman of the Pak-China Institute, Mushahid Hussain Syed and former diplomat Maleeha Lodhi, condemned the friendship.
They argued that the alliance is aimed at isolating China and Pakistan.
Further, it was argued that the India-Israel partnership was anti-Muslim and anti-Pakistan.
An official said that this clearly explains Pakistan’s hypocrisy. On one hand, it condemns the India-Israel strategic partnership, while on the other, it backs a terrorist organization such as Hamas.
Since the last two years, the Pakistani establishment has been supporting the Hamas group, while giving space to the Muslim Brotherhood.
These are done with the intention of enabling support to proscribed terror outfits such as Jaish-e-Mohammad and Lashkar-e-Tayiba.
A report by the Afghan Diaspora Network said that this risks the ideological spillover and proxy entanglement across two already volatile regions of South Asia and West Asia.
Another official said that this exposes the hypocrisy of Pakistan. Although India has defence partnerships with Israel and other countries such as Russia, it has never used the weapons or technology as an aggressor.
The aim of having strategic defence partnerships is to ensure India’s security in a volatile region that includes Pakistan, the official said.
Pakistan, on the other hand, has used its defence partnerships with other countries to play the role of an aggressor.
Another official said that the kind of reception Prime Minister Modi received in Israel, and the deals that the two countries have signed, has worried Pakistan, as it is apprehensive over broader geopolitical realignments in West Asia.
Experts say that Pakistan is unhappy about the strategic India-Israel partnership. However, its biggest concern is that Israel has been emerging as India’s key defence supplier.
India has always maintained that its relationship with Israel is based on national security and mutual benefit. The relationship is not directed at any country, New Delhi has maintained.
