Azad Essa, in his seminal work “Hostile Homelands” has stated, “It is here where the consequences of this relationship between India and Israel become clear: they are the blueprint and serve as a model for authoritarian regimes around the world.” The Indian PM Modi visited Israel with his delegation on 25 February this year. This trip is time sensitive as the Middle East and South Asia are both experiencing new trends and the current global order is in flux. Various political, ideological and historical linkages have resulted in a strategic partnership between India and Israel, and this visit can be considered as its formal recognition and extension. From optics to behind-the-scenes deals, India and Israel have tried their utmost to depict this meetup as a successful one, challenging common adversaries and threats within and beyond the region.
Since the inception of BJP’s government in India, it has been quite evident that India has become very close to Israel, raising the partnership to strategic levels. Contradicting its traditional foreign policy approach, India under PM Narendra Modi has maintained strong back-channel connections with Israel. India has already been the Jewish state’s largest defence purchaser for years, including 34% of total sales from 2020-2024, according to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI). Likewise, the Israeli Defence Ministry’s International Defence Cooperation Directorate (SIBAT) has said that total arms sales to India during this period were worth around $20.5 billion. As of 2025, during Operation Sindoor, India used Israeli-origin drones against Pakistan, which provided a clear understanding of the current trajectory of Indo-Israel relations. The creation of India-Israel-US-UAE (I2U2) or the West Asian QUAD is its best manifestation. Although an informal quadrilateral security pact, the I2U2 provides a common platform for India and Israel to pursue covert objectives in their respective regions.
From the entertainment industry to people-to-people connections, India and Israel have been constantly on the path of a burgeoning relationship. Famous Indian TV shows have been projecting Israel’s image as one of the top security and intelligence players in the world and its closer partnership with Indian military and intelligence agencies. With the downing of approximately five Indian fighter jets during the May 2025 conflict, India was condemned on the international stage. Soon after the war, the world witnessed Pakistan’s expanding sphere of influence with defence deals and arms sales with Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and other Middle Eastern countries.
Narendra Modi’s visit to Israel in February 2026 is simply an extension of this changing perception between the two countries. Before this meeting, there were five big agendas that were on the table to be discussed and implemented after talks. These included elevating their relationship to a ‘Special Strategic Partnership,’ defence and security cooperation (in particular, Iron Dome, and Iron Beam deals), conducting a Free Trade Agreement (FTA), Tech Cooperation and formation of a new alliance to counter Islamic radicalism in their respective regions. Prior to the visit, Israel has offered its Iron Dome and Iron Beam defence technology to India and PM Netanyahu has called for the formation of a ‘Hexagon of Alliances’ against the alleged axis of resistance and radical Sunni Islam. According to Netanyahu, it would primarily include India, Israel, Greece, Cyprus, some Arab and African nations.
However, what the deal brings and what comes out of it are quite contradictory. After this visit, an FTA was signed with some defence-and tech-related deals. Neither were prominent deals related to defence systems i.e. Iron Dome or Iron Beam, and nor was the creation of the so-called alliance announced. What came out was rather more political than strategic. PM Modi addressed the Israeli Knesset and declared full Indian support to Israel against terrorism, in particular the October 7 Hamas attack. He stated, “Like you, we have a consistent and uncompromising policy of zero tolerance for terrorism with no double standards.” However, no statement was given regarding loss of lives in Palestine.
PM Modi emphasized the civilizational importance of both India and Israel and compared Indian philosophical aims with the Israeli principle of ‘tikkun olam’ about healing the world. Knowing the fact that Israel was created in 1948, PM Modi exaggerated its existence to a civilizational level. While PM Modi stressed the importance of IMEC and I2U2, he didn’t mention the creation or even India’s willingness to be a member of any alliance, as proposed by the Israeli PM. There wasn’t any mention of ‘hexagon of alliances’ by Indian officials, which clearly shows that they still prefer not to be entangled in inter-regional disputes.
It seems like the visit ended with no such groundbreaking agreements. It ceased to be an inflection point. In the case of defence deals with India, including Iron Dome and Iron Beam systems, it would be very difficult for Israel to do so without consent from the US since it is a key partner in these defence platforms. The Trump administration, with its ongoing tussle with India could halt such deals, pressuring Israel. Secondly, the case of extending I2U2 to a hexagon of alliances proved to be a political rhetoric, at least for now. As this alliance seems to be created against anti-Israel Gulf states, India would not undermine its partnership with the Arab world by choosing sides. Pakistan has also condemned and passed a resolution against the idea of creating regional alliances against Muslim brotherhood. The meeting, which the Israeli PM desired to come up with some multilateral defence pact miserably failed and ended in just bilateral deals.
In essence, the recent visit of PM Modi to Israel, although it did not result in any groundbreaking achievements, is still a matter of serious concern for Pakistan. The burgeoning bilateral partnership between India and Israel could provide them a common platform to work against Pakistan’s security interests. From Kahuta (1980s) to Operation Sindoor (2025), the India-Israel defence relationship has been detrimental to Pakistan and its people. To ward off any negative implications, Pakistan may have to enhance defence cooperation with other like-minded states such as China, Türkiye, etc. and should also make an effort to strengthen and unify the Muslim brotherhood. India and Israel, if not today, then tomorrow, might formally establish the proposed alliance. Therefore, instead of being reactive, an anticipatory move should be taken by both Pakistan and Gulf countries collectively.
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