New Delhi — Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s two-day state visit to Israel on February 25–26, 2026, marked a new high in the India-Israel “Strategic Partnership,” with heavy focus on defence cooperation, technology transfer and trade — but it has also quietly reignited debate at home and abroad about what the deepening bond means for the Kashmir question.
This was Modi’s second visit to Israel as prime minister, and the first time an Indian leader addressed the Knesset. In his speech, he stood firmly with Israel, recalling the October 7, 2023, attacks and declaring: “India stands with Israel firmly, with full conviction.”
India is not among the 85 United Nations member states that have condemned Israel’s de facto expansion in the occupied West Bank, as Prime Minister Narendra Modi prepares for his second visit to Israel since his controversial 2017 trip, which was recently referenced in the… pic.twitter.com/3KeHgGXfUG
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Key Highlights
- Modi first Indian PM to address Israeli Knesset.
- Talks centre on joint manufacturing, moving beyond buyer-seller model.
- India explores Iron Dome elements for indigenous Sudarshan Chakra system.
- AI, quantum computing, semiconductors and agriculture cooperation in focus.
- Plan to expand Indo-Israeli Centres of Excellence in agriculture from 43 to 100.
- Merchandise trade reached $3.62 billion in 2024–2025; push for FTA.
- Modi credits Israel for surveillance tech used along LoC.
- Visit continues India’s “de-hyphenation” policy on Israel-Palestine.
From Buyer to Builder
The defence conversation dominated. Both sides agreed to shift from India simply purchasing Israeli systems to co-developing and manufacturing them locally. A major topic was incorporating aspects of Israel’s famed Iron Dome into India’s own Sudarshan Chakra air defence project — a move that could strengthen India’s layered missile shield.
Modi and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also visited a technology exhibition, where Modi pushed Israeli firms to invest in India’s growing tech ecosystem. Agriculture received attention too, with plans to increase Indo-Israeli Centres of Excellence from 43 to 100, focusing on precision irrigation and water management.
Trade figures were modest — merchandise trade stood at $3.62 billion in 2024–2025 — but both leaders pressed for an early Free Trade Agreement to unlock bigger numbers.
Kashmir in the Background
While the official agenda avoided Kashmir, the visit inevitably stirred discussion back home and in parts of the Muslim world. Critics point to what they call an emerging “Israel model” in IIOJK: heavy use of Israeli-made drones, surveillance sensors and electronic monitoring along the Line of Control to curb militancy.
Some analysts and rights groups draw uncomfortable parallels — “bulldozer justice” and demographic concerns in Kashmir compared to Israeli settlement policies in the West Bank. Supporters, however, argue the comparison is unfair: India sees Kashmir as an internal security issue, not a territorial dispute like Israel-Palestine.
Modi’s decision to visit Israel without a parallel stop in Ramallah continued India’s long-standing “de-hyphenation” approach — treating relations with Israel and Palestine as separate tracks. Israel, for its part, has rarely commented on India’s internal policy changes in Kashmir, including the 2019 revocation of Article 370.
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Strategic Silence and Global Positioning
The visit fits into India’s broader diplomatic play: deepening ties with Israel for defence and tech while maintaining a measured stance on Gaza. India supports the “Gaza Peace Initiative” but has avoided the sharp condemnations seen from other Global South nations. In return, Israel offers “strategic silence” on Kashmir.
For many ordinary Pakistanis watching from across the border, the summit was another reminder of how quickly regional equations can shift. Defence and technology gains for India could translate into added pressure along the LoC. Yet the same observers also note that alliances built on mutual interest can be fragile — and that genuine peace in Kashmir still depends on dialogue, not imported models.
As the dust settles on the visit, one thing is clear: India-Israel ties are moving from strong to stronger. Whether that brings more security — or more scrutiny — for Kashmir remains an open question.
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