Israel and India 'share same views'

[Guest guest]

Israel and India 'share same views'

 

 

Tensions with Pakistan are high on agenda

 

Israeli Foreign Minister Shimon Peres has told Indian leaders that the two

countries share a similar outlook on the world.

Mr Peres arrived in Delhi on Monday and met Indian Home Minister, LK Advani, to

discuss co-operation between the two countries.

 

 

 

Israel and India: Growing co-operation in security

 

The Israeli leader, who is on a three-day official visit, is also scheduled to

visit Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee, Foreign Minister Jaswant Singh, and

Defence Minister George Fernandez.

 

He will also call on opposition leader Sonia Gandhi to underscore the bipartisan

nature of India's relations with Israel.

 

Despite India's traditionally close ties to the Palestinians, Indo-Israeli ties

have developed steadily over the past few years.

 

Security ties

 

Trade between the two countries has grown substantially to around $1bn per year.

 

But the most significant aspect of Indo-Israeli co-operation has been in the

defence field.

 

Israel has become India's second-largest supplier of military equipment after

Russia.

 

India has recently ordered military hardware worth over $1 billion.

 

 

 

The greatest enemy is terror. Terror cannot exist unless someone is harbouring

terrorists

 

Israeli Foreign Minister Shimon Peres

 

These include sophisticated airborne early-warning systems and unmanned

reconnaissance aircraft.

 

The two countries also share intelligence on Islamist militancy.

 

Israel has extended its full support to India in Delhi's confrontation with

Pakistan.

 

Parallels have also been drawn in both countries between India's problems in the

disputed Kashmir region and the insurrection by Palestinians in the occupied

territories.

 

Referring to the current tensions in South Asia, Mr Peres said, "The greatest

problem of our time is terrorism.

 

 

 

Regional summit failed to ease tension

 

 

"The greatest enemy is terror.

 

Endorsing India's accusations against Pakistan, he said, "Terror cannot exist

unless someone is harbouring terrorists."

 

But political discussions with the Indian leadership in Delhi are not the only

purpose of the visit.

 

India and Israel have built up collaboration in the fields of science and

technology as well.

 

Partly to reinforce that trend, Mr Peres will travel to Bangalore, the heartland

of India's burgeoning IT industry.