 |
 |
 |
 |
|
Der Krieg ist der Vater der Dinge. -HERAKLIT
Business Recorder - August 20, 2001
[With thanks to Arms Trade Newswire ]
India is seeking enhanced Israeli cooperation to counter all potential threats, including nuclear, from Pakistan and deals are already underway to acquire sophisticated weapons worth billions of dollars with a possibility of New Delhi buying submarines capable of carrying nuclear warheads from Tel Aviv.
Quoting Kashmir Observer, Kashmir Media Service says, western defence analysts fear that the increasingly warming defence and political relations between the two countries could have a significant impact on the security of two of the most volatile regions in the world: South Asia and the Middle East.
In a detailed report late last week, the Jane's Intelligence Digest (JID) said a fundamental reassessment of their long-term defence and security interests has taken place between India and Israel since the upgrading of diplomatic ties in 1992.
In the last decade the two countries have built up extensive military collaboration, involving arms sales, equipment upgrades, the transfer of technology and joint weapons development programmes.
The latest multibillion dollar defence agreements are seen as another watershed in the Indo-Israeli strategic partnership, the report said, adding that under these agreements, the Israeli aircraft industry will supply India, and later build jointly, the Barak naval surface-to-surface missiles and a plan to develop the Super Bark missile at a cost of approximately $250 million.
Further weapons shipments from Israel to India include unmanned aerial vehicles worth approximately $ 300 million and the Green Pine radar system, which is an integral part of the Arrow anti-ballistic missile system worth $ 250 million. JID sources also reveal that deals involving the upgrading of aircraft and Indian T-72 battle tanks, worth an estimated $ 500 million, and the development of a vehicle-borne howitzer for the Indian army, costing around $ 500 million, are also in advanced stages of negotiation. Military intelligence reports suggest Israel has also been given a contract to fence off areas in the volatile Kashmir region and is probably the only foreign state, which has access to sensitive installations in the border region.
The JID also revealed that the two countries are already discussing the possibility of joint military exercises in the region. "If this were to happen, it could have a significant impact on the security of two of the most volatile regions in the world: South Asia and the Middle East." In political terms, the Indian policy on the Middle East has also undergone a dramatic shift in recent times with the focus moving away from the Arab nations in favour of closer links with Israel. At a time when regional tensions remain high and Arab moves to isolate Israel internationally are being stepped up, the growth of strategic ties between the two nations is a cause for grave concern within the Arab world, said the JID.
--------------------------------------------
IMRA - Independent Media Review and Analysis
Website: www.imra.org.il
kokhaviv publications > The Israel Archive
© Copyright 1999 - 2001 kokhaviv publications