Why Narendra Modi's visit to Israel is a security concern for Pakistan
The symbolic significance of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Israel became clear as soon as he set foot in Tel Aviv on Wednesday. He became the first Indian Prime Minister to visit Israel in 2017. This is his second visit to the country.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu gave Modi a red carpet welcome in Tel Aviv yesterday. However, there is currently an arrest warrant against Netanyahu by the International Criminal Court (ICC). In addition, his war in Gaza has been condemned by a large part of the world as 'ethnic cleansing'. However, these controversies have not created any hesitation in Modi's mind; on the contrary, his visit is a clear indication of further strengthening India's strategic relationship with Israel.
A few days before Modi's arrival, Netanyahu announced the 'Hexagon Alliance' in a cabinet meeting. India has been placed at the center of this regional structure. Along with Greece, Cyprus and some unnamed Arab, African and Asian countries.
Netanyahu said the aim of the alliance is to confront the “extremist axis”. In his words, “We have dealt a severe blow to the extremist Shiite axis. Now we must confront the newly resurgent Sunni axis.”
Currently, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is Israel’s harshest critic. On the other hand, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan signed a “strategic mutual defense agreement” in September 2025. All three countries are Sunni-dominated. As a result, it is not difficult to understand which countries Tel Aviv sees as the “Sunni axis”.
Analysts say India's closeness to Israel could change Islamabad's strategic equation. It will have a direct impact on Pakistan's security in an already volatile region.
Expanding ties in defense and technology
India-Israel relations have grown rapidly since Narendra Modi's first visit in 2017. India is now the largest buyer of Israeli weapons. Topics such as defense, artificial intelligence (AI), quantum computing and cybersecurity are expected to be discussed during the visit.
Under a new secret framework, Israel is expected to export some previously banned military equipment to India. This includes Israel's 'Iron Beam', a 100-kilowatt-class high-power laser weapon that the Israeli army has been using since December 2025. It is also considering transferring Israel's 'Iron Dome' missile defense technology to be manufactured locally in India.
Masood Khan, a former Pakistani ambassador to the US and the UN, sees the Indian Prime Minister's visit as a 'final moment'. He said, 'There are reports that they are going to sign a special strategic agreement. This could be a counter-measure to the agreement signed by Pakistan and Saudi Arabia last year. The US and Germany also have such special agreements with Israel.'
Former Pakistani ambassador to China Masood Khalid also pointed to this military dimension. Referring to the four-day intense air war between India and Pakistan in May 2025, he said, “We saw how Israeli drones worked against us during last year’s war. Both sides (Israel and India) are now publicly announcing increased cooperation in defense, counterterrorism, cybersecurity and AI.”
The defense relationship between India and Israel is no longer one-sided. During the 2024 Gaza war, Indian defense agencies supplied Israel with rockets and explosives; this was confirmed by Al Jazeera’s investigation.
Omar Karim, a researcher at the Riyadh-based King Faisal Center for Research and Islamic Studies, believes the partnership is part of a larger shift. He told Al Jazeera that it is clear that India and Israel are engaged in a strategic relationship. This relationship has become important for both countries at a time when both governments are being criticized for their actions.
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