A high-profile Indian delegation, including military officials and journalists, recently visited Israel to deepen bilateral ties and discuss shared security challenges. The visit, which was set up by Sharaka, a non-profit that promotes dialogue and cooperation, showed how the two countries are working together on defense, technology, and keeping their border regions safe.
Several delegation members drew comparisons between the security challenges faced by both nations. Lt. Gen. Satish Dua, a former senior Indian Army officer, pointed out similarities between Israel’s border issues and India’s situation in Jammu and Kashmir. He noted that both nations deal with “difficult neighbors”—India with Pakistan and Israel with its own difficulties from its neighbourhood.
Dua talked about how India has been relying on Israeli defence technology for a long time, pointing out that Israeli monitors are used to keep the borders safe. He also remembered the times when Israel quickly sent important military equipment during wartime, circumventing the normal long procurement times.
Another top military official on the trip, Lt. Gen. Rajendra Ramrao Nimbhorkar, stressed that Israel’s military history is taught in depth in India’s defence curriculum. “There is a great deal of awareness among Indian Army officers about Israel’s military strategies,” he said.
The visit also focused on expanding military collaboration, including joint exercises and knowledge exchange. Dua stressed the importance of enhancing cooperation in emerging fields like cybersecurity and space technology, areas where Israel has strong capabilities.
Beyond the military domain, India and Israel share deep trade and technological ties. Devang Bhatt, head of the Indian news channel GTPL, noted that his company uses Israeli security systems, reflecting Israel’s influence in various industries.
India’s TV9 deputy editor and senior anchor Neha Khanna, with The Media Line’s Felice Friedson. Image Credit: The Media Line
Indian journalists who were part of the group talked about how people in their home country see Israel. Neha Khanna, a senior anchor at TV9, said that many Indians understand Israel’s security worries because of their own country’s history with terrorism, especially the 2008 attacks in Mumbai. However, she added that prolonged conflict has led to concerns over the humanitarian toll.
According to Snehesh Alex Philip of ThePrint, young Indians like their news to be short and to the point. This changes how global battles are reported. He said that even though there are political differences, most Indians support Israel.
