Strategic Synergy India-Israel cooperation against Pakistan

Strategic Synergy

India-Israel cooperation against Pakistan

Two post World-War II born democracies India and Israel have established a robust and dynamic bilateral relationship anchored on common security needs, economic and technological ties. Some of the most outstanding strategic convergence between the two countries involves counter terrorism and defense, more so with an empathy on Pakistan. Although India considers Pakistan as its key security threat in the region, the Israeli interests are driven by the need to neutralize Islamist radicals and to protect its geo-political interests. The present article examines contextual, nature, and implications of India-Israel cooperation against Pakistan.

There is a History behind India-Israel Relationships

Although India acknowledged Israel in 1950, complete establishment of diplomatic relations was recorded in 1992. India had been waiting quite some time owing to its reliance on Arab oil, advocacy of the Palestinian cause and the position of Non Aligned Movement leadership. But the collapse of the Cold War, economic liberalization in India, and increase in Islamic extremism came to bring different trend in terms of strategy. Israel, which had already become an isolated country in the Middle East, found in India a big non-Muslim democracy that shared common security interests and needs, particularly after India experienced serious terrorist attacks rooted on Pakistani territory.

Strategic Convergence over Counterterrorism

Common Threat Perception

State-sponsored terrorism has also taken its toll on both countries, India on the one hand due to groups like Lashkar-e-Taiba or Jaish-e-Mohammed (organizations that normally act with the support of Pakistan) and Israel on the other hand by groups like Hamas, Hezbollah, and other Iranian backed organizations. It is the shared principle of threat perception which underlies their strategic synergy. Israel considers the presence of Pandas nuclear weapons and its record in harboring jihadi as a dangerous cocktail that poses risk to the security of the region and even the world in general.

Intelligence Sharing and Joint operations

Intelligence has been institutionalized with India and Israel, especially the likes of India Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) and Israel Mossad.
Since the 26/11 Mumbai attacks, Israeli intelligence is also said to have provided Indian counter terrorism agencies, forensic assistance and operational intelligence regarding Pakistani handlers. The build-up in the frequency and sophistication of joint military exercises which hardly receive much publicity including the use of special forces specifically trained to combat in urban areas and counterinsurgency.

Cooperation in Military and Defense

Arms and Technological Exports

Israel can be hailed as the number three weapon importer in India after Russia and France. Other major weapon systems like the Phalcon AWACS (Airborne Warning and Control Systems), the SPYDER anti-aircraft missile systems and the Heron UAVs have been used to strengthen India processing capabilities along the Line of Control (LoC) with Pakistan. It is important to note that Israeli drones have played a critical role in the surveillance in Kashmir as well as the border monitoring.

The Technologies of Counter-IED and Cybersecurity

Israeli developments regarding counter IED (Improvised Explosive Device) and tunnels detection have been helpful to India, particularly in such areas as Jammu and Kashmir and Punjab, where terrorists based in Pakistan have easy access. Both states have focused on defense through security in the cyber environment including cooperating in using cyber defense measures to prevent sabotage and prevent cyber attacks that are linked to state or non-state elements that are based in Pakistani soil.

Diplomacy and International Councils

Although India and Israel have different foreign policy stands on issues faced in the international scene, the amount of diplomatic similarity, however, is evident in the approach to Pakistan-based terrorism. The two nations favor systems that focus on terrorism being the responsibility of the state. India has used Israeli precedents of such targeted counterterrorism strikes like the 2016 and 2019 strikes in response to Pakistani attacks as a justification to conduct its own surgical strikes and air raids. In its part, Israel has supported the Indian right to self-defense, especially in the international arena such as the United Nations.

Perception and Response of Pakistan

The India-Israel alignment is seen with suspicion by Islamabad as other aspect of encirclement policy. The threat of a two front “Zionist-Hindu” alliance is common theme in Pakistani military literature. Pakistan has in turn strengthened its relations with Arab countries, China, and Turkey – and in certain instances attempts to offset India by positioning to appear as a victim of a strategic conspiracy. In addition, the perceived Indian-Israeli unilateral strike on its strategic facilities is one of the factors influencing the nuclear stance of Pakistan.

Risks to Stability in the Region

Escalation Risks

The nature of India-Israel cooperation, and more specifically, cooperation in areas of intelligence and defense, increases South Asian deterrence. Although it boosts the ability of India to handle cross-border dangers, it can cause misunderstanding in Pakistan, which may result into a bigger conflict particularly during the nuclear overhangs.

Balancing and Strategic Autonomy

The agreement between India and Israel is also aimed at strategic independence that is found in holding both ends in its relations with the Arab world and strengthening ties with Tel Aviv. In the case of Israel, the relations with India are a part of the greater shift towards Asia, as it is no longer focusing solely on its usual Western partners.
The cooperation between India and Israel against Pakistan is not direct but subtly, and their mutual goals implicate counterterrorism and security aims. Their collaboration can be seen as a force multiplier of Indian approaches to the region and entrenchment of a presence in Asia by Israel. Although such collaboration brings forth certain complexities into the geopolitics of South Asia, it also has value regarding enhancing the Indian capability of deterring asymmetric threats. This partnership must be handled with a tactful sense of restraint to avoid a wider brush fire in a nuclearized neighborhood.