THE cosy ties between India’s ruling BJP — Hindutva’s political wing — and Zionist Israel is hardly a secret. But recent developments regarding this sinister alliance should serve as a wake-up call for Pakistan, particularly where its defence is concerned. As per the Indian media, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday met New Delhi’s ambassador to his country, as well as Indian journalists. According to the reports, the Israeli leader praised the role weaponry manufactured by his country played in the recent armed conflict between Pakistan and India. “The things we provided before worked very well on the field,” he said, with apparent reference to India’s aggression against Pakistan in the shape of Operation Sindoor. The media reports say that Israeli drones and missiles were used by India during combat. ISPR had earlier confirmed that Israeli drones deployed by India had been shot down. None of this should come as a surprise, as India is reportedly the world’s top importer of Israeli weaponry. But the trade is not one-way; India also ships armaments to Israel.

Some may argue that the Indo-Israeli arms trade is simply business; Israel will sell its deadly wares to any interested party, while India will similarly trade with whomever it wishes based on commercial considerations. But there is a deeper ideological link here. Both Hindutva and Zionism are racist, exclusionary ideologies that thrive on violence and terror. This is despite the fact that Hindutva’s ideological fathers had great respect for Nazism and European fascism. In the current era, both Israel and India tar the Palestinian and Kashmiri freedom struggles, respectively, with the ugly label of terrorism. In fact, some Indian officials and academics have publicly said the Israeli ‘model’ should be replicated in held Kashmir. It is also a fact that the BJP-led regime has said almost nothing about Israel’s genocide in Gaza, and several Indian leaders have expressed solidarity with Israel. In short, the BJP’s India has fully renounced Gandhian and Nehruvian solidarity with Palestine, and unreservedly backs Israeli oppression. Pakistan needs to be wary of this growing nexus, as it poses a major threat to its security. The recent revelations indicate that Israel is directly aiding India in its aggressive forays against Pakistan, hence this country must remain alert and strengthen its defences, while keeping foreign allies in the loop.

Published in Dawn, August 9th, 2025