“In fact, links between India and Israel were started in the early years of the former Prime Minister Indra Gandhi when she asked the chief of R&AW Rameshwar Nath Kao to establish a clandestine liaison with Mossad to monitor military relationship between Pakistan , China and North Korea . During the era of Zia-ul-Haq, a R&AW-Mossad joint plot was detected to attack Pakistan ’s nuclear plant at Kahuta.”__________________
by Sajjad Shaukat
(May 21, Islamabad, Sri Lanka Guardian) In 1992 when Indo-Israeli ties were openly established, the two countries were having secret relationship. Although they have strengthened their diplomatic and economic links, yet they are following secret innovative strategies for giving a major impetus to their defence cooperation.
The revelations of Israel ’s ambassador to India , Mark Sofer during his interview to the Indian weekly Outlook as published on February 18, 2008 surprised Pakistan , China and the Middle East in particular. On a question regarding India ’s defence arrangements with Israel , Sofer while indicating two identical situations, disclosed “We do have a defence relationship with India , which is no secret. On the other hand, what is secret is the defence relationship”. And “with all due respect, the secret part will remain a secret.” On being asked whether he foresaw joint exercises, Sofer replied “Certain issues need to remain under wraps for whatever reason.”
Indian ties with Israel remained under wraps till 2003, when Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon visited India to officially reveal this relationship. In this respect, Indian ‘The Tribune’ wrote on September 10, 2003, “India and Israel took giant leaps forward in bolstering the existing strategic ties and forging new ones” and Tel Aviv has “agreed to share its expertise with India in such fields as anti-fidayeen operations, surveillance and defence satellites, intelligence sharing, space exploration and fighting against terrorism”, particularly in the Occupied Kashmir. Next day, ‘Indian Express’, disclosed, “From anti-missile systems to hi-tech radars, from sky drones to night-vision equipment, Indo-Israeli defense cooperation has known no bounds in recent times”.
Recent defence purchases by New Delhi from Tel Aviv include fast attack naval craft, electronic warfare system, unmanned aerial vehicles,—modernization of Indian Army, Mig-27 aircraft, the Indian Navy's Ka-25, Russian-supplied Mig-21 aircraft, T-72 tanks etc. Besides, Indian secret deal entails submarine launched cruise missiles, micro-satellite systems, laser guided systems etc.
On September 5, 2003 American Wall Street Journal pointed out, “The U.S. finally gave its approval to Israel's delivery of Phalcon Airborne Warning & Controlling Systems (AWACS) to India”—this “sale might affect the conventional weapons balance between India and Pakistan”. On February 28, 2003 Jerusalem Post disclosed the “Israeli sale of the Arrow-II anti-ballistic missile defense system to India”, writing that “the U.S. was a collaborator in the project”. The Post further elaborated that “ Israel could be acquiring an element of strategic depth by setting up logistical bases in the Indian Ocean for its navy”
In fact, links between India and Israel were started in the early years of the former Prime Minister Indra Gandhi when she asked the chief of RAW Rameshwar Nath Kao to establish a clandestine liaison with Mossad to monitor military relationship between Pakistan , China and North Korea . During the era of Zia-ul-Haq, a RAW-Mossad joint plot was detected to attack Pakistan ’s nuclear plant at Kahuta.
Besides present open deals, secret defence collaboration has always existed between Tel Aviv and New Delhi . For example, on July11, 2004 Indian Express revealed, “Israel sent its laser guided missiles to India during the Indo-Pak Kargil war of 1999”, and also cooperated when India was “planning to undertake a limited military strike against Pakistan in June 2002.” Suspicion also arises that if the US-India new nuclear deal did not succeed due to the objections of Indian Opposition, the same technology might be supplied by Washington to New Delhi via Tel Aviv covertly.
The matter is not confined to purchasing of military equipments, Indo-Israeli overt and covert nexus is part of a dangerous strategic game in the region. In this connection, the then Israeli premier, Benjamin Netanyahu had already made it clear in July 1997 saying, “Our ties with India don’t have any limitations—as long as “India and Israel are friendly, it is a strategic gain”.
Security relationship between New Delhi and Tel Aviv has been promoted with the help of Washington to make the two states work closely to counter-balance a rising China whom America considers main competitor in the coming years.
However, no country can neglect its defence when its adversaries are playing a secret game. It is due to this reason that on 16 August 2007 during an annual summit, leaders of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) which consists of Russia , China and four Central Asian states including Pakistan and Iran as observers, while emphasizing defence cooperation, displayed their strength in a firm challenge to the rising dominance of the US in the region. It is because of the strategic developments in Asia that the issue of Tibet and Dalai Lama is being exploited by the anti-Beijing states to destabilize China .
As regards RAW, more than 25 Indian foreign offices, along with the north-western border of our country are supervising saboteurs to conduct bomb blasts in Pakistan . Despite the peace deal of the newly elected government with the Taliban, bomb blasts in Mardan, Kohat etc. keep on going. As regards another event, on May 14 this year 20 persons were killed by American missile strikes in Bajur Agency. These strikes which could also continue in future are aimed at sabotaging the government-Taliban peace agreement as Washington is opposed to the same. This clearly shows that RAW, Mossad and American CIA are working in accordance with a plot to destabilize Pakistan to fulfil the sinister strategic designs of their countries.
In May 1998, when India , detonated five nuclear tests, Islamabad was compelled to follow the suit through its own atomic experiments. Nevertheless, a new phase of Pak-Indian missile race continues from time to time. It is most regrettable that New Delhi has entangled Pakistan into a deadly missile race despite the fact that the latter intends to depend upon minimum deterrence.
With the clandestine help of Israel and America , on 26 February 2008, India conducted its first test of a nuclear-capable missile from an under sea platform after completing its project in connection with air, land and sea ballistic systems. Next day, Pakistan ’s Naval Chief Admiral Muhammad Afzal Tahir disclosed, “We are aware of these developments, which are taking place with a view to putting nuclear weapons at sea and it is a very serious issue”. However, under the pretension of China factor, Washington , New Delhi and Israel are plotting to block the sea lanes of the Indian Ocean for their joint strategic goals.
The September 11 tragedy in the US provided both India and Israel with a golden opportunity to achieve their covert goals with the backing of American-led western countries. They immediately joined the US war on terror and have continuously been trying to convince the US-led western states through a propaganda campaign that the Kashmiri and Palestinian freedom fighters including Hezbollah are terrorists. They accuse Iran , Syria and Pakistan of sponsoring cross-border terrorism in the related regions of South Asia and the Middle East . At present, the equation of terrorism with the so-called Islamic fundamentalism is a key issue between the Eastern Muslims and Western Christians. Availing the ongoing international phenomena, by equating the ‘war of independence’ in Kashmir and Palestine with terrorism has become the main target of New Delhi and Tel Aviv.
If India considers Pakistan as her enemy number one, Israel takes Iran in the same sense especially due to its nuclear programme which is also negated by the US . Tel Aviv is also against Pakistan as it is the only nuclear Islamic country. Nevertheless, this similarity of interests has brought the two countries to follow a common secret strategic game.
It is of particular attention that the US has been providing Pakistan with military and economic aids due to its role of a frontline state for American war on terror, while on the other hand is accusing the country of safe havens for Al Qaeda related terrorists—cause of attacks on NATO forces in Afghanistan. In the same sense, Washington, favours a peace process in the Middle East but on the other side, it supports Israeli right of self-defence, providing her a justification to keep on going with its atrocities on the innocent people of Gaza and the West Bank. Hindu-Jewish lobbies are also convincing the Americans for their favour in relation to Kashmir and invading tribal areas of Pakistan , So, American ambivalent approach has given a good chance to India and Israel in manipulating the same for their common covert interests.
Returning to our earlier discussion, secret part of India-Israeli defence ties as disclosed by Mark Sofer is bound to result into a global catastrophe in wake of the different war between the US-led sovereign entities and non-sovereign entities. In this regard, we should remember that secret treaties were the major cause of the World War 1. Indian historian V.D Mahajan remarks that the major cause of the World War 1 was the secret alliance among Austria-Hungary and Germany —then Italy joined the Ausro-German alliance, initiated by German leader Bismark. On the other side France, Britain and Japan concluded counter alliance—ultimately all that resulted into militarization of Europe and the World War 1. In this respect, if not checked in time, the secret collusion of Israel and India which is being patronized by Washington could lead the international community to World War111, popularly, known as clash of civilizations.
( Pakistani writer who writes on international affairs and who is also author of the book: US vs Islamic Militants, Invisible Balance of Power: Dangerous Shift in International Relations- Email: sajjad_logic@yahoo.com )
- Sri Lanka Guardian
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