Yehonathan Tommer

Jerusalem, February 18

Differences have cropped up between India, Israel and the US on the scope and goals of a strategic partnership to counter international terrorism.

Top policy thinkers of the three countries met in a conference hosted by the Israeli International Policy Institute for Counter Terrorism (ICT) in Tel Aviv.

The Tel Aviv conference was the second in a series of three Jewish Institute for National Security Affairs sponsored dialogue on trilateral strategic cooperation. The first was held in New Delhi last year and the concluding dialogue will be held next year in US.

While Indian analysts were in favour of 'consolidating, deepening and broadening' the US-Israel bilateral ties, their Israeli counterparts proposed inclusion of Russia, Turkey, Egypt, Jordan, Ethiopia and Eritrea in the anti-terrorist bloc. The US seemed more interested in forming a strategic partnership to 'outflank Islamic fundamentalists' to counter Al Qaeda and its allies.

Discussions were also held on naval, space and ballistic missile defence cooperation.

The meeting also focused on terrorism, diplomacy, and economic and technological aspects of their strategic cooperation.

Lt Gen RK Sawhney, a former director general of military intelligence and deputy chief of army staff, said the trilateral partnership should be a loose arrangement between 'friends' and not a binding treaty between 'allies'.

Gen Sawhney said this would enable India to ensure the professional level and competence of its armed forces. It wanted to benefit from 'the infusion of innovative Israeli R&D' and 'superior American technology', he added.