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Brothers in Arms

The deepening India-Israel relations will have significant implications for the region, and this nexus can be highly dangerous for Pakistan

By Sajad Jatoi | April 2026

The Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi landed in Israel on 25 February for a two-day official visit, just 48 hours before Israel and the US started a war against Iran by killing its top leadership in the middle of ongoing negotiations over Iran’s nuclear programme. The sensitive timing of PM Modi’s visit to Israel has made it necessary to analyse the nature and implications of the trip. The questions arise: What does it indicate in view of India’s policy of strategic autonomy and non-alignment? Has India quit its ideological posturing on the Palestinian cause, and has it decided to join the US-Israel camp while compromising its position on the forums of the Global South?

Before discussing these questions, it is essential to shed light on the regional situation prior to this controversial visit. Before PM Modi arrived in Israel and signed 16 agreements and 11 joint initiatives spanning science, technology, trade, and labour mobility, Israel had been planning to attack Iran and eliminate its top leadership. In this unlawful and illegal mission, it had the backing of the U.S. President Donald Trump. The attack was grounded on the fears that if it did not take action by this time, it would be too late, as Iran had been actively engaged in upgrading its defensive and offensive capabilities following the 12-day war of June 2025. Israel believed that once Iran upgraded its military capabilities, it would become untouchable and invincible. Such were the circumstances when PM Modi landed in Israel.

While the tour is significant, it is being viewed from multiple lenses. Some analysts view it as a decisive turning point in Indian foreign policy. They opine that India has decided to join the US-Israel camp and has decided to take this relationship deeper. What makes them say this is the timing of the visit. After 7 October 2023, Israel has been facing international isolation over the issue of the genocide of innocent Palestinians. In fact, its own allies have shifted their stance on the matter. To illustrate, Spain, France, Canada, and other countries have recognised a Palestinian state and criticised Israel for its actions. However, PM Modi ended this isolation. He not only paid a visit but also became the first foreign PM to address the Israeli parliament, called the Knesset.

Some analysts view this visit in light of the existing cooperation between Israel and India. These two countries share ties in defence cooperation and trade. To illustrate, India imported radars, drones, and other critical military technology worth over 20 billion USD between 2020 and 2025, accounting for 34% of Israeli exports of military equipment. For example, during the May conflict between India and Pakistan, India had relied on Harop drones imported from Israel. Therefore, some analysts think that the visit emphasises the continuation of that cooperation.


However, the visit has drawn domestic ire. Opposition parties in India see this as a weakness in India’s foreign policy. Leaders of the Indian National Congress, such as Rahul Gandhi, criticised PM Modi, saying he has compromised the independence of India’s foreign policy. They believe India has given in to U.S. coercion. This is because India has always followed a policy of non-alignment. Historically, it has rallied behind the Palestinian cause as it has enjoyed closer relations with the Palestinian Liberation Organization. However, India under the BJP seems to have shifted from this stance. For example, during his speech at the Knesset, PM Modi did not condemn the killing of over 72,000 Palestinians by Israeli forces.

India has slowly but definitely leapt into the U.S. camp

What’s more, the failure of India to condemn the illegal attack of the U.S. military on the Iranian warship called IRIS Dena in international waters near Sri Lanka has also put it in the limelight. The ship was struck by an American torpedo after it was returning from maritime drills hosted by and held in India. The incident resulted in the loss of over 87 marine soldiers. Nonetheless, India did not issue any statement, further confirming its capitulation at the hands of the U.S.

While some analysts want to view India-Israel relations from a broader perspective, given that both Israel and India are part of the proposed India-Middle East Economic Corridor, the U.S. administration’s public statements reveal a different picture. To illustrate, following the closure of the Strait of Hormuz in the wake of the Iran-Israel-U.S. war, the spokesperson of the US stated that the U.S. had granted a 30-day waiver to India to buy Russian oil. This was pointed out by INC leader Rahul Gandhi, who criticised the statement, saying that the U.S. president will now decide from whom India should buy oil.

From these developments, it can be deduced that India has slowly but definitely leapt into the U.S. camp. The days of an independent foreign policy for India seem to be days of the past. This strategic shift will have a widespread impact on India’s claim to represent the Global South. This is because India has sided with Israel at a time when an important ally, which is part of BRICS, was under attack from the rogue states of the Global North. This will definitely diminish India’s influence on the forums of the Global South.

Given this historic turning point, the deepening India-Israel relations will have significant implications for the region. This nexus can be highly dangerous for Pakistan, which is an adversary of both New Delhi and Israel. New Delhi can utilise Israeli military equipment and intelligence. It can also strengthen its air defence system by importing Iron Dome. This may embolden India and could trigger another Pakistan-India war in the future.

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