India-Israel Strategic Alliance Deepens Amidst "Hexagon of Alliances" Proposal

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's recent visit to Israel marked the second by an Indian premier, signaling a significant expansion of India's strategic partnership with the nation. He was welcomed by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Prior to Modi's arrival, Prime Minister Netanyahu introduced a "hexagon of alliances" proposal. This regional framework aims to counter what he described as "radical axes." The proposed alliance reportedly includes India, Greece, Cyprus, and various unnamed Arab, African, and Asian states.

Analysts suggest Netanyahu's "emerging radical Sunni axis" could encompass nations like Turkiye, Saudi Arabia, and Pakistan, which have recently bolstered security cooperation. Pakistan, being the sole Muslim nuclear power, has historically been a concern for Israel, dating back to attempts in the 1980s to seek Indian cooperation against a Pakistani nuclear facility.

Expanding Defense and Technology Cooperation

The India-Israel relationship has intensified significantly since 2017, firmly establishing India as Israel’s largest arms customer. Recent discussions during Modi's visit covered a broad spectrum, including defense, artificial intelligence (AI), quantum computing, and cybersecurity.

A new classified framework is anticipated to facilitate exports of previously restricted military hardware from Israel to India. Among the systems reportedly under consideration are Israel’s Iron Beam laser weapon and cooperation on Iron Dome missile defense technology for local manufacturing.

In a reciprocal move, Indian arms firms supplied rockets and explosives to Israel during the 2024 conflict in Gaza, a fact confirmed by an Al Jazeera investigation.

Implications for Pakistan

Analysts suggest that India's deepening alignment with Israel could significantly impact Pakistan's strategic calculations in the region.

Strategic Agreement: Masood Khan, Pakistan’s former ambassador, has posited that a special strategic agreement between India and Israel may be signed. This could potentially mirror Pakistan’s own agreement with Saudi Arabia in September 2025.
Military Dimension: Former Pakistani ambassador Masood Khalid highlighted India's use of Israeli-origin platforms during the May 2025 aerial conflict with Pakistan. Public statements from both nations consistently emphasize strengthening strategic cooperation in defense, counterterrorism, cybersecurity, and AI.
Intelligence Sharing: Khalid also pointed out that intelligence sharing between India’s RAW and Israel’s Mossad dates back to the 1960s, a long-standing dynamic that understandably raises concerns for Pakistan.
"Radical Sunni Axis" Attribution: Umer Karim, an associate fellow, interprets Pakistan as a component of Netanyahu’s "radical Sunni axis." He argues that Israel will likely intensify defense cooperation and intelligence sharing with India to counter this perceived axis, especially given Pakistan’s strategic agreements with Riyadh and close ties with Turkiye.

Alternative Assessments

Not all analysts concur that Pakistan is an explicit target of this burgeoning alliance. Gokhan Ereli, an independent Gulf researcher, suggests that Pakistan is more likely affected indirectly. He argues this occurs through the alignment of Israeli, Indian, and Western threat narratives, rather than being singled out as a destabilizing actor.

Masood Khan, the former Pakistani ambassador, also stated he does not perceive a direct threat, though he acknowledged a "latent animosity." Muhammad Shoaib, an assistant professor, indicated that India’s closer relations with Israel could negatively influence Tel Aviv’s perception and public statements concerning Pakistan.

Regional Balancing Acts

Pakistan's reliance on Gulf partners for financial support creates an increasingly complex diplomatic landscape.

While Pakistan formalized a Strategic Mutual Defence Agreement with Saudi Arabia in September 2025 and is actively discussing a similar framework with Turkiye, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), a close Gulf partner, signed a strategic agreement with India in January 2026.
Furthermore, Pakistan has actively sought to de-escalate regional tensions involving Iran, the US, and Israel through diplomatic efforts.

Strategic Leverage

Pakistan's policymakers are currently assessing whether its strengthened ties with Saudi Arabia and Turkiye can effectively offset the expanding India-Israel partnership. Both India and Israel frequently frame their security doctrines around countering "Islamic radicalism," with New Delhi often accusing Pakistan of fomenting violence.

However, former ambassador Masood Khan asserts that Pakistan possesses significant leverage. He points to its defense against Indian aggression in May 2025 and its strengthened ties with the United States as key factors.