Both sides decided to further deepen bilateral cooperation, including in defence and strategic domains
ISLAMABAD:
Pakistan on Thursday expressed concern over the deepening strategic and defence partnership between India and Israel, warning that the growing nexus poses serious implications for regional peace and stability.
Responding to questions during his weekly news briefing, Foreign Office spokesperson Tahir Andrabi said Islamabad was closely monitoring the expanding military ties between New Delhi and Tel Aviv, particularly in light of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Israel this week.
During the visit, both sides decided to further deepen bilateral cooperation, including in defence and strategic domains, a development that has drawn attention in Islamabad.
“On Indian-Israel defence ties, yes, we remain seized of the defence ties between Israel and India, including systems and platforms used by India against Pakistan,” Andrabi said.
He added that Pakistan was “alive to the threat that they pose to our security and our sovereignty and territorial integrity, as well as to the regional peace and stability.”
The spokesperson’s remarks come against the backdrop of last May’s four-day conflict between Pakistan and India, during which India used Israeli-made drones. The episode reinforced concerns within Pakistan about the operational dimension of the India-Israel defence partnership.
Reiterating Pakistan’s preparedness, Andrabi said Islamabad had “robust military preparedness to defend and deter any Indian aggression against Pakistan”.
The Foreign Office also strongly rejected India’s condemnation of Pakistan’s recent precision strikes against terrorist hideouts inside Afghanistan.
In response to a question regarding the Indian Ministry of External Affairs’ statement criticising Pakistan’s actions, Andrabi said: “We completely reject India’s statement.”
He said Indian statement was vindication of Pakistan’s stance that New Delhi was supporting proxy groups.
Andrabi said New Delhi continued to “aid and abet terrorism in Pakistan through its support for BLA, the Fitna Al Hind and other terrorist organizations in the region.”
“We possess concrete evidence of India’s involvement in sponsoring and abetting terrorism,” he said, adding that India’s recent statements provided “additional circumstantial evidence of India’s complicity in promoting terrorism in Pakistan.”
The spokesperson maintained that Pakistan’s actions were conducted in exercise of its right to self-defence and were based on verifiable intelligence.
Amid escalating tensions along the western border, Andrabi clarified that there was currently no structured dialogue underway between Pakistan and Afghanistan.
“There is no structured dialogue as of now,” he said, responding to a question about possible diplomatic engagement following the recent cross-border incidents.
While underscoring Pakistan’s respect for the Afghan people and historic ties between the two countries, he identified the core issue as the presence of terrorist outfits operating from Afghan soil and enjoying impunity.
“The contentious issue is the terrorist outfits who operate in Afghanistan, and the official support and impunity being offered to that terrorism,” he stated.
The spokesperson also emphasised that Pakistan would continue to respond “swiftly and strongly” in exercise of its right to self-defence, while simultaneously raising the matter at bilateral, regional and multilateral forums, including the UN Security Council’s counterterrorism mechanisms.
The developments highlight mounting regional strains, with Islamabad increasingly wary of the strategic convergence between India and Israel, and the evolving security situation along its western frontier.
