Why Indian PM Modi’s Israel visit matters for Pakistan’s security

By Admin

26 Feb, 2026

When Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi landed in Tel Aviv for his second official visit to Israel, the symbolism was powerful. Welcomed by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Modi’s trip signalled a deepening strategic embrace between New Delhi and Tel Aviv, one that analysts say could reshape Pakistan’s security and diplomatic landscape.

For Pakistan, this growing India-Israel alignment is not merely symbolic. It touches defence, intelligence, regional alliances and the Gulf power balance, all of which directly affect Islamabad’s strategic calculus.

Expanding Defence and Technology Ties

Since Modi’s landmark 2017 visit, India has become Israel’s largest arms customer. The current agenda spans defence, artificial intelligence, quantum computing and cybersecurity.

Reports suggest that a new classified framework may allow Israel to export previously restricted military hardware to India. Among the systems under discussion:

• Iron Beam, a 100kW-class high-energy laser weapon inducted into the Israeli army in December 2025.
  
  

• Iron Dome missile defence technology, potentially for local manufacturing in India.
  
  

Pakistani analysts point to the May 2025 four-day aerial conflict between India and Pakistan, during which India reportedly deployed Israeli-origin drones. The memory of that conflict underscores Islamabad’s concern that enhanced India-Israel cooperation could shift the military balance in South Asia.

Notably, defence ties are no longer one-directional. During Israel’s 2024 Gaza war, Indian arms firms supplied rockets and explosives to Israel, reflecting a maturing two-way strategic partnership.

Netanyahu’s “Hexagon” and Regional Alignments

At a cabinet meeting before Modi’s arrival, Netanyahu outlined what he called a “hexagon of alliances”   a regional framework positioning India at its centre alongside Greece, Cyprus and unnamed Arab, African and Asian states.

He described its purpose as countering both a “radical Shia axis” and an “emerging radical Sunni axis.” While Israel claims to have weakened Iran-aligned groups such as Hezbollah and Hamas during its 2024–2025 campaign, the “radical Sunni axis” remains loosely defined.

Analysts suggest that countries aligned with Ankara and Riyadh could fall under this umbrella. Turkiye, led by Recep Tayyip Erdogan, has been among Israel’s most vocal critics. Meanwhile, Pakistan formalised a Strategic Mutual Defence Agreement with Saudi Arabia in September 2025.

Given these alignments   and Pakistan’s status as the only Muslim-majority nuclear weapons state   some experts believe Islamabad inevitably features in Israel’s long-term security calculations.

However, others argue Pakistan may be indirectly affected rather than explicitly targeted, through the alignment of Israeli, Indian and Western threat narratives.

Intelligence Cooperation and Security Concerns

Intelligence ties between India’s Research and Analysis Wing and Israel’s Mossad reportedly date back decades. Strengthened intelligence sharing, particularly in counterterrorism and cybersecurity, could deepen India’s strategic advantage.

For Islamabad, the concern is not only military hardware but also integrated defence ecosystems   combining AI, cyber warfare, surveillance technologies and missile defence systems.

As one former Pakistani diplomat noted, while there may not be an immediate direct threat, “latent animosity” persists, especially if India frames Pakistan negatively in Israeli strategic discussions.

The Gulf Balancing Act

The Gulf presents Pakistan’s most complex diplomatic challenge.

Islamabad has long relied on Gulf partners for economic support, including loans and remittances. The Strategic Mutual Defence Agreement with Saudi Arabia strengthened this pillar. Yet in January 2026, the United Arab Emirates signed a strategic agreement with India.

The Gulf Cooperation Council   comprising Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the UAE   remains central to Pakistan’s economic stability.

As India expands its footprint in the Gulf, Pakistan faces a delicate balancing act: preserving traditional alliances while navigating shifting geopolitical currents.

Analysts argue that Islamabad must focus on geoeconomics  boosting trade and connectivity with Central Asia, Turkiye, Iran and Russia   to reinforce its regional standing beyond purely military alliances.

Iran, the US and the Wider Strategic Contest

Another layer of complexity is Iran. With tensions high between Iran, United States and Israel, Pakistan has advocated diplomacy rather than escalation.

However, Israel’s security concerns extend beyond Iran’s nuclear programme to its missile capabilities and regional alliances   areas where Pakistan’s diplomatic positioning could be tested.

Meanwhile, both Modi and Netanyahu frame their security doctrines around countering what they term “Islamic radicalism.” India has repeatedly accused Pakistan of fomenting violence, a charge Islamabad denies.

Strategic Calculations for Islamabad

Ultimately, Modi’s Israel visit represents more than ceremonial diplomacy. It underscores:

• A deepening India-Israel defence partnership
  
  

• Potential shifts in regional alliance structures
  
  

• Enhanced intelligence cooperation
  
  

• Growing competition in the Gulf
  
  

For Pakistan, the key question is whether strengthened ties with Saudi Arabia, Turkiye and other partners can offset the expanding India-Israel strategic axis.

Some Pakistani officials argue that Islamabad has built a “firewall” by pushing back against Indian aggression in May 2025 and improving ties with Washington. Yet in an already volatile region, evolving alliances demand constant recalibration.

Modi’s visit, therefore, is not just about India and Israel. It is about the emerging geometry of power in the Middle East and South Asia   and where Pakistan fits within it.