NEW DELHI: India and Israel on Wednesday agreed to deepen their already robust defence ties, committing to a long-term strategic framework for future collaboration. The renewed focus on defence cooperation came during high-level talks between Indian Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh and Major General Amir Baram, Director General of Israel’s Ministry of Defence.
During the meeting, Israel strongly condemned the April 22 terrorist attack in Pahalgam and expressed full support for India’s counterterrorism efforts. In response, Singh reaffirmed India’s “zero tolerance” policy toward terrorism. He also condemned the October 7, 2023 terrorist attacks in Israel and called for the immediate release of all hostages.
Both sides reviewed the progress of joint defence initiatives since their last Joint Working Group meeting in July 2024 and agreed to work towards establishing a more structured, institutional framework to enhance their defence cooperation.
“This visit by the Israeli DG marks a significant step in advancing India-Israel defence ties and highlights both nations’ shared commitment to strengthening their strategic partnership,” a defence official said.
India’s recent military operations against Pakistan between May 7 and 10 showcased the critical role of Israeli-origin weapon systems in its arsenal. Among them were Harop and Harpy loitering munitions — also known as kamikaze drones — used to target Pakistani air defence sites and radar installations deep across the border.
Additionally, India deployed the Barak-8 medium-range surface-to-air missile system, developed jointly with Israel, as part of its layered air defence strategy. The system played a key role in intercepting waves of Turkish-made drones and Chinese-origin missiles launched by Pakistan during the hostilities.
