According to senior diplomat Sardar Masood Khan, a potential special strategic agreement between India and Israel cannot be ruled out following the Indian Prime Minister’s recent visit to Tel Aviv, which could potentially rival Israel’s defense arrangements with countries like the United States and Germany.
The former President of Azad Jammu and Kashmir said in a statement today that discussions during Narendra Modi’s visit, building on a pre-existing strategic framework, indicate a deepening of cooperation in defense production, advanced technology, and regional geopolitics. He pointed out that this partnership extends beyond bilateral relations, becoming part of broader strategic arrangements like the Western-backed I2U2 grouping.
According to Khan, such a formal agreement could institutionalize collaboration on drones, air defense systems, and joint defense manufacturing.
Discussing the growing military cooperation, the former ambassador acknowledged that India has used Israeli-made defense equipment against Pakistan during past periods of tension. However, he said that Islamabad is not alarmed by these developments, as Pakistan has established an effective deterrence by strengthening its defense capabilities and strategic alliances.
Nevertheless, Khan cautioned that prudence requires keeping a close watch on regional developments. He pointed out that while Israel’s public tone regarding Pakistan has been cautious recently, negative trends cannot be ignored. He suggested that active Indian diplomacy in Tel Aviv could reinforce negative perceptions of Pakistan in some policymaking circles, potentially leading to increased intelligence sharing and defense cooperation between India and Israel. However, he clarified that Pakistan does not perceive any immediate or direct military threat from the visit.
Commenting on the evolving situation in the Middle East, Khan highlighted Pakistan’s own growing strategic and defense ties with the United States, China, Turkiye, and Saudi Arabia. He emphasized that new alliances are forming in the region, compelling Pakistan to further enhance its partnerships through balanced and proactive diplomacy.
Khan strongly dismissed speculations about Pakistan’s participation in certain forums, stating that engaging in any diplomatic process does not mean endorsing Israeli policies or compromising Pakistan’s principled stance on Palestine and Kashmir. He outlined Islamabad’s “red lines,” which include non-participation in military action against Palestinians and a commitment to ensuring unhindered humanitarian aid.
The diplomat stressed that the primary objective of Pakistan’s foreign policy is the establishment of a sovereign and independent Palestinian state based on pre-1967 borders in accordance with United Nations resolutions, coexisting alongside Israel. He affirmed that this support for the Palestinians’ right to self-determination does not in any way diminish Pakistan’s unwavering stance on the right to self-determination for the people of Jammu and Kashmir.
He concluded that as regional alliances shift and strategic balances are reshaped, Pakistan’s position is unambiguous: national security will be protected at all costs while fostering responsible partnerships and advancing principled diplomacy based on international law.