A complicated and often contradictory relationship exists between the Pakistani military and Israel, marked by behind-the-scenes cooperation despite public hostility and a lack of formal diplomatic relations.
Recent events, including a high-profile White House lunch between US President Donald Trump and Pakistan’s army chief, General Asim Munir, have brought the nuanced dynamics of this relationship into focus.
While Pakistan officially maintains a pro-Palestinian stance and does not recognise Israel, a history of pragmatic, if clandestine, engagement between the two nations’ security establishments reveals a more complex reality. This history of covert ties has often been driven by shared strategic interests and the influence of global powers.
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A History of Pragmatic Engagement
Despite Pakistan’s official policy, which includes voting against the UN Partition Plan for Palestine in 1947, there have been numerous instances of cooperation. This paradoxical relationship is rooted in both ideological opposition and realpolitik. Pakistan’s public stance is shaped by pan-Islamic solidarity and strong domestic support for the Palestinian cause. However, beneath the surface, a different narrative has unfolded.
During the Soviet-Afghan War, Israel and Pakistan found themselves on the same side, opposing the Soviet invasion. Israel, through the United States, provided Soviet-made weapons captured from Arab forces to the Afghan mujahideen via Pakistan. This intelligence and military cooperation extended to other conflicts, such as the Black September in Jordan in 1970, where then-Brigadier Zia-ul-Haq, who would later become Pakistan’s president, played a role in suppressing Palestinian militants, an action that served the interests of Western-aligned monarchies.
More recently, reports have surfaced about ongoing intelligence sharing. In 2010, it was revealed that Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) had passed information to Israel’s Mossad regarding a potential terrorist attack in Mumbai, where a Jewish centre was a target. In 2013, Britain’s Department for Business, Innovation and Skills disclosed that Israel had exported military technology to Pakistan, a claim both countries publicly denied but which sparked speculation about efforts to bolster Pakistan’s counter-terrorism capabilities. These instances highlight a pattern of pragmatic covert ties that bypass public political sentiment.
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The Push and Pull of Normalisation
The debate over normalising relations with Israel is a recurring theme in Pakistani politics, often driven by the military and bureaucratic elite. Proponents argue that establishing ties could bring economic benefits, such as access to Israeli technology, and strategically neutralise the growing India-Israel alliance. Former leaders, including President Pervez Musharraf, have openly discussed the possibility of recognition, contingent on a resolution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
However, this push for normalisation faces significant domestic opposition. The Pakistani public remains staunchly pro-Palestinian, a sentiment that politicians and religio-political groups often leverage. The recent war in Gaza has amplified this anti-Israel sentiment, making any move toward normalisation politically perilous. Former Prime Minister Imran Khan consistently rejected normalisation, a stance that aligned with public opinion but reportedly caused friction with international and regional powers who were encouraging such a move, particularly in the wake of the Abraham Accords.
Analysts suggest that the military establishment’s interest in a relationship with Israel is a form of “postcolonial mimicry” and a desire for validation from Western powers, particularly the United States, where the Israeli lobby holds significant influence. This creates a fundamental contradiction: a military elite exploring covert ties and realignment while the public demands unwavering solidarity with Palestine. This divergence underscores the deep-seated complexities defining Pakistan’s foreign policy and its long, unacknowledged history with the state of Israel.
Image credit: Observer Research Foundation.
