Islamabad: The defence deal between India and Israel has irked Pakistan as Islamabad complained to the United States against the ‘nexus,’ officials said.
Earlier, Israel Aerospace Industries struck a $ 2 billion deal with India to supply the missile defence systems to the Indian navy. This was described by IAI as the largest-ever defence deal.
Under the deal, the IAI would supply an advanced air defence system, including medium-range surface-to-air missiles, launchers and communications and control technology, to the Indian Army for around $ 1.6 billion. An additional naval defence system, including long-range surface-to-air missiles, would be deployed on India’s first aircraft carrier, which is still being built, said an IAI statement.
The value of the second deal was not made public but the IAI said the total package amounted to nearly $ 2 billion. For years, India has been the Israel one of the top three arms suppliers to India. The US congress said between 2008-2015 India was the second largest arms purchaser among the developing countries after Saudi Arabia.
Officials foreign ministry said Pakistan had told the United States that India was “instigating an arms race in the region” threatening peace. These officials said that India’s $ 2 billion defence deal with Israel was designed against Pakistan.
“We have asked the US to take notice of the anti-Pakistan alliance between India and Israel. Washington has been requested to use its influence to stop India’s arms buying spree for the sake of peace,” an official said.
Another foreign ministry official said the India-Israel ‘nexus’ was discussed with the US and Washington was asked to stop the two from disturbing peace. “They want Pakistan to spend less on defence but we have to remain prepared for defence.
