- By Mayukh Debnath
- Tue, 25 Jun 2024 06:14 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
India-Israel News: Daniel Carmon, Israel's former ambassador to India, recently asserted that India's purported weapons supply to Israel amid the ongoing war in Gaza could be New Delhi's way of returning the favour for Israeli support during the Kargil War. Carmon, in an interview with Israel-based Ynetnews, highlighted Israel's supply of military equipment to India during its war with Pakistan in 1999.
Israel-India Kargil Link
"The Indians always remind us that Israel was there for them during the Kargil War," Daniel Carmon told Ynetnews. The Israeli diplomat added, "Israel was one of the few countries that stood by them and provided them with weapons. The Indians don’t forget this and might now be returning the favor." In 1999, Israel discreetly provided India with guided munitions and drones for use in the Kargil conflict.
Daniel Carmon Remarks: Context
Daniel Carmon's remarks come against the backdrop of media reports that suggest India provided Israel with drones and artillery shells for use in Gaza as Israeli arms dumps faced shortages. In February, as the war in Gaza dragged on for months, media reports said India had provided the Israeli military with 20 Hermes 900 unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) manufactured in Hyderabad.
ALSO READ: China Achieves Historic First As Its Chang'e-6 Probe Brings Home Soil From Moon's Far Side
The facility that produced the drones was set up as a joint venture between Indian and Israeli private entities to manufacture drones for the Indian defence services. However, more than a dozen of them were reportedly sent to Israel for use by the Israel Defence Services (IDF). New Delhi has yet to react to the reports.
Months after the reports, in May, Spanish authorities prevented a merchant ship named 'Marianne Danica' from docking at the Cartagena port. The ship, which was on its way to Israel, was ferrying 27 tons of munitions and had originated from Chennai, Ynetnews said in a report.