India and Israel have reached a strategic partnership level. They are jointly collaborating in areas of Network-Centric Electronic Warfare. India has procured the latest Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) and spy satellites and refurbished its Soviet-era war machinery with the help of Israel. Both countries are collaborating on counterterrorism and intelligence sharing. The defense trade between India and Israel has crossed the $10 billion mark.
Both countries wanted to enhance their influence in South Asia and the Middle East. India wanted to modernize its triad forces and get access to the advanced, lethal, and cutting-edge technology, while Israel wants global recognition and expansion of its defense industry. This continuously evolving partnership between India and Israel has dire implications for the South Asian security paradigm and balance of power. India’s increasing procurements of conventional capabilities from Israel are a clear threat to the national security of Pakistan.
Background
In 1948, when the state of Israel came into being, India did not maintain any type of relation with Israel, primarily for two reasons:
- Israel was a newborn, tiny, and weak state, with no special political significance. Israel, at that time, had no strategic and economic value in the international arena and was isolated from the outside world.
- The Muslim world was against Israel, and India didn’t want to annoy the Muslim countries, which were politically, economically, and strategically far more significant. Russia also had warm relations with the Muslim world at that time, and India wanted Russian recognition.
After three wars i.e. 1948, 1967 and 1973 with Arabs, Israel learnt a lot and improved itself, by strengthening its defense production and became a de-facto nuclear weapon state during 1970s and 1980s. In 1992, after the dissolution of the Soviet Union (USSR), India started searching for alternative partners and found Israel as a significant defense partner. Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, for the first time in history, visited India during the government of Atal Bihari Vajpayee in 2003. After that, high-level visits became common between both states, including the most significant visit of Indian Defense Secretary Vijay Singh to Israel in 2008.
Indian Arms Imports
“According to SIPRI, arms imports of India from Israel have increased by 175%, making it the second largest supplier during 2015-19.” From 2010 to 2019, major Indian arms imports were from Russia. However, later on, the procurements between Russia and India went down from 72% to 56%. In 2015-19, the US supplies to India were approximately 51%. As of 2025, the Indian military’s defense budget allocation has also reached $78.5 billion.
Armed Cooperation Between India and Israel
Surface-to-Air Missile System
India procured various air defense equipment, including QR-SAM and Spyder-SR/MR, which are short—and medium-range mobile air defense systems.
Tavor TAR-21 Rifles and Galil Sniper Rifles
Israel exported more than 3000 Tavor rifles worth $30 million to India, which are mainly used by Indian Naval special forces (MARCOS). These guns are light in weight and have a caliber of about 5.56x45mm. India also imported the long-range Galil Sniper Rifles from Israel. In 2010, the Indian special naval forces named MARCOS imported approximately 500 Tavor and 30 Galil ammunition from Israel worth $3.3 million. With a magazine capacity of approximately 25 rounds, these rifles could be utilized for a long time without reloading.
Air Force Cooperation Between India and Israel
EHUD-ACMI System
Indians are striving hard to improve and enhance their aerial capabilities, which date back to the Soviet era. The Indian Air Force is acquiring an Air Combat Maneuvering Instrumentation (ACMI) system from Israel. This system will provide feasibility in training sessions and simulation, with virtual locking and targeting modules.
MiG-21 Fighters
Indian MiG aircraft are also being improved by the Israeli defense complex, with enhancements in laser technology, radar systems, and life span. India used its MiG aircraft against Pakistan during the Balakot crisis in 2019. These jets were equipped with Israeli-made “SPICE” weapon systems.
Modern Radar Technology
LRTRs can intercept enemy missiles from 800-1000 km. India developed these radars with the help of Israeli defense firm ELTA. This system provides India with the capability to target missiles from the Pakistani side at a much farther range, thus giving Indian soldiers valuable time to neutralize them before reaching the targets.
Naval Cooperation Between India and Israel
Barak-8
The Israel Aerospace Industry (IAI) first tested the Barak-8 missile system in 2014. The Indian Navy and Air Force procured these systems to intercept targets at about 70 km range. The Indian Navy has equipped its naval fleet, INS-Kolkata and INS-Kochi, with more than 30 Barak-8 munitions.
INFACT T-82
IAI exported INFACT T-82 attack systems to India in 2003. These systems can propagate at 40 knots of maximum speed, possess night vision, and operate in shallow water where major craft cannot.
Dvora MK-II
In 1996, India and Israel entered into a $10 million deal to procure two Dvora MK-II patrolling ships. With a speed of 45 knots, these ships can be utilized in an area of more than 700 km and are crucial for offshore operations, spying, and sea control objectives. IAI has manufactured its advanced version, Dvora Mk-III, which will possibly be inducted into the Indian Navy shortly.
Ka-25 Anti-Submarine Helicopters
Modified by IAI, this Indian anti-submarine air machine has a 290km/h speed and about 400 km of range. It can detect submarines at surface and subsurface levels.
Indo-Israel Surveillance Collaboration
Israeli Settlements in India
The Indian area of Himachal Pradesh is now becoming a tourist and residential place for many Israelis. Two important villages, namely Kasol and Dharamkot, have become the epicenter of Israeli settlements. Kasol is known as the “Mini-Israel” of India. This village provides recreational and touristic facilities to most of the Israelis. On the other hand, Dharamkot is known as the “Tel Aviv of the Hills”. These Indian sectors border Kashmir, a disputed territory between Pakistan and India. The Israelis are attracted to these Indian areas primarily for four major reasons:
- Provide young Israeli soldiers with a relaxing and recuperating environment after their training. These newly trained soldiers visit these Indian villages for recreation and entertainment.
- The indigenous communities have become aware of Israeli culture and Hebrew signs. They offer Hebrew food and dishes in their restaurants.
- Not officially reported, these villages could provide strategic leverage to both India and Israel, operating against Kashmiri freedom fighters with the help of advanced Israeli-made lethal weapons, including HAROP drones and surveillance systems.
- The war-weary and displaced Israelis after the October 7 attacks are now residing in these Indian villages as hostages.
Indo-Israel Cooperation: A Threat to Pakistan
Pakistan’s stance towards Israel has always been vicious throughout history.
“Every Muslim must die before witnessing the day when Jews capture Jerusalem. Jews are not capable of conquering Jerusalem without the assistance of the US and West.”
– Founder of Pakistan Muhammad Ali Jinnah
Thus form that time till now, the foreign policy of Pakistan has always been in confrontation with Israel.
In 2011, Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu, while giving an interview, said, “We want to prevent an Islamic regime from acquiring nuclear weapons. The first threat is Iran and the second one is Pakistan.” This statement explicitly declared an Islamic state with nuclear weapons as a national security threat to Israel. Thus, in order to dismantle Pakistan’s nuclear capabilities or to make it weak conventionally, Israel has now become a full-fledged strategic ally of India. The Hindutva ideology of India coincides with the Zionist thinking in Israel, both imposing their versions of fascist ideologies in their states and regions, respectively.
Israeli Zionist leaders then adopted a strategy – enemy of my enemy is my friend – developing not only diplomatic but strategic partnerships with India. Both states started cooperating, creating vulnerabilities for Pakistan on political and military grounds. Currently, the Operation Sindoor conducted by India against Pakistan openly depicts Israel’s involvement in the war. The lethal technology and military equipment used by India against Pakistan were of Israeli origin. These include the Harpy and Harop drones, which are self-destructing, loitering munitions. The Defense Ministry of Pakistan stated that the remains of Israeli drones used by India against Pakistan are now under the control of state authorities.
Options for Pakistan
- Maintaining credible minimum deterrence.
- Acquiring second-strike capabilities.
- Expansion of its defense industries.
- Enhance the Pak-China strategic partnership.
- Diplomatically strive for the Muslim world’s support against Israel.
Conclusion
Like the Indo-US strategic partnership against China, the Indo-Israel partnership is mainly Pakistan-oriented. As both countries wanted to target Pakistan’s missile system, especially its nuclear sector, they are collaborating on different fronts. The Jewish lobby, being the strongest in the US, has always tried to impose sanctions on Pakistan’s nuclear and missile program. This serves both Israel, whose broader regional interest in the Middle East faces a threat from the Muslim world’s nuclear ambitions. On the other hand, India, being the rival state of Pakistan, has always wanted to pressurize Pakistan, trying to isolate it regionally and internationally. The Indo-Israel strategic partnership is now becoming more intact and cohesive, which is a clear threat to Pakistan and South Asian security and stability.
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The views and opinions expressed in this article/paper are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect the editorial position of Paradigm Shift.
He is pursuing a BS in International Relations programme from International Islamic University, Islamabad and has a keen interest in research works, policy analysis, defence and strategic studies and conflict resolution.
