POLITICS: India, Israel, U.S. Axis against Terror Takes Shape

By Ranjit Devraj Reprint | | Print |

Ranjit Devraj

NEW DELHI, Sep 10 2003 (IPS) - Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon’s visit to India, cut short Wednesday by reports of suicide bomb attacks back home, has highlighted the emerging axis among New Delhi, Tel Aviv and Washington on their worries about what they consider their terrorism problems.

Briefing journalists before the premature departure of the high-powered Israeli team, Sharon’s deputy Yosef Lapid said: ”We are cutting short our visit for the very reason that brought us to India – terrorism.”

He was referring to fresh reports of suicide bombs in Israel which left 15 dead in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv on Tuesday.

Lapid spoke of an emerging ”axis” against terrorism involving India, Israel and the United States. ”In the abstract sense we are creating such an axis,” he said, replying to questions on a proposal that has been in the air for some months now.

He referred to the Aug. 25 twin blasts in India’s western port city of Mumbai, which left nearly 60 people dead and to the frequent suicide bombings in disputed Kashmir state as reasons why India should be interested in such an axis.

”There is a mutual interest among the three countries in making the world a more secure place for all of usà.there is American support for development of this unwritten axis,” Lapid added.

Lapid offered assistance to India in combating terrorism. "Israel can help by supplying electronic means, fences and gadgetry, which can be very helpful in India’s fight against terror. India is now part of an international network which fights terror wherever it raises its head," he said.

Earlier, Laden announced Israel’s readiness to supply India with three Phalcon Airborne Early Warning Systems (AWACS). Washington has already given approval for the sale of the surveillance aircraft, which can also serve as a command and control platform for fighter aircraft.

”This will ensure that your skies are under your eyes,” Laden said.

India is also negotiating to buy Arrow missile defence systems from Israel, although this deal is still awaiting clearance from the United States, a collaborator in its development.

The idea of a triangular strategic alliance was first unveiled by Brajesh Mishra, the most powerful bureaucrat serving India’s right-wing, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led government while addressing the American Jewish Committee in May.

Mishra then described as a ”fallacy” the idea that ”terrorism can only be eradicated by addressing its root causes” and argued for a ”core consisting of democratic societies” to take upon itself the job of tackling the issue.

He counted blocking financial supplies, disrupting networks, sharing intelligence, and simplifying extradition procedures as among preventive measure that can be effective against terrorism.

All of these issues were on the agenda of the visiting Israeli team which offered, besides military hardware, help with methods to detect money laundering operations across international borders that are used to fund terrorist operations.

Israel emerged as a major military supplier to India during the 1999 war with Pakistan at Kargil on the Line of Control (LoC), which runs through disputed Kashmir. At the time, it provided drones or unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) useful in high-altitude surveillance.

Since then, defence cooperation between Indian and Israel has been increasing steadily – so much so that Lapid could announce during the current visit that Israel was now the ”second largest supplier (of weapons) to India”.

Traditionally, India has sourced the bulk of its armament needs from Russia and before the end of the Cold War, from the Soviet Union. It has also been, in the past, a vocal supporter of the Palestinian cause.

Although Sharon’s team had to be terminated abruptly, a defence team that accompanied him managed to complete by Tuesday a series of strategic interactions that could facilitate Israel’s involvement in the planned modernisation of India’s armed forces.

The 15-man Israeli defence team included Maj Gen Amos Yaron, director general of the Israeli Defence Ministry and Gen Arie Mizrachi, chairman of the board of Israeli Military Industries.