'India supplying Israel arms to return a favour'

New Delhi, NT Bureau: India may be supplying weapons to Israel for its war in Gaza as a way of 'returning the favour' for Israeli assistance during the 1999 war with Pakistan, according to a former envoy.

Daniel Car mon who served as Israel’s ambassador to India from 2014 to 2018, made the comments in an interview to leading Israeli publication 'Ynetnews', reported 'The Independent'. His comments came amid reports that India has been supplying drones and munitions for Israel’s military campaign to eradicate Hamas. India has neither confirmed nor denied the reports.

“The Indians always remind us that Israel was there for them during the Kargil war. Israel was one of the few countries that stood by them and provided them with weapons,” Mr Carmon said.

“The Indians don’t forget this and might now be returning the favour,” he said.

Mr Carmon was referring to the brief high-altitude war between India and Pakistan in the Kargil region of Jammu and Kashmir between May and July 1999.

During that period Israel helped India by providing crucial military supplies and equipment, including precision-guided munitions and surveillance drones.

In May, Spain refused to allow ships carrying arms to Israel from India to call at its ports, the country’s foreign minister said, in keeping with its commitment not to “contribute to war”.