Pakistan provides Israel with 155mm shells amid Israel-Hamas conflict: Report
- In Reports
- 05:43 PM, Nov 18, 2023
- Myind Staff
Amidst its historical support for the Palestinian cause and vocal opposition to the existence of Israel, Pakistan is reportedly providing 155mm shells to Israel in the ongoing conflict with Hamas. A report citing flight-tracker data from a source on alleges that a British Air Force plane flew from Bahrain to Pakistan's Nur Khan Base in Rawalpindi and subsequently traveled to an allied base in Cyprus via Oman.
The British Royal Air Force's Akrotiri base in Cyprus has become a key international military hub for supplying ammunition to Israel in the midst of its conflict with Hamas. According to reports from Israeli newspaper Haaretz, significant military activity has been observed at RAF Akrotiri. Over 40 US transport aircraft, along with 20 British transport aircraft and seven heavy transport helicopters, have flown to the base, carrying a range of equipment, arms, and forces.
Notably, US planes landing at the Nevatim Air Force Base in southern Israel have been delivering arms for the Israeli military. These deliveries include items such as armoured vehicles. Additionally, the same US aircraft, upon landing at Ben Gurion airport in Tel Aviv, have transported various supplies for Israel.
Pakistan, unlike many countries globally, does not acknowledge the existence of Israel. Since its establishment in 1947, Pakistan opposed the United Nations Partition Plan for Palestine. Notably, the back page of a Pakistani passport contains a distinctive cautionary note stating that the passport is valid for all countries worldwide except Israel.
The Pakistani government has consistently maintained its stance, asserting that it will not establish normalized relations with Israel until the creation of an independent Palestinian state, delineated by the pre-1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital.
Despite this stance, historical records reveal instances of Pakistan engaging with Israel through intermediary channels, notably via Turkey. In 2009, Wikileaks reported that Pakistan's intelligence agency, ISI, had issued a warning to Israel regarding an impending terrorist attack in Mumbai—the 26/11 attacks—when terrorists based in Pakistan also targeted a Jewish cultural centre.
The year 2020 saw the success of the Abraham Accords, prompting ousted Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan to claim that the United States and "at least one other country" had increased diplomatic pressure on Islamabad to normalize ties with Israel.
Pakistan manufactures essential munitions required for ground assaults. In September 2023, The Intercept reported that Pakistan's covert arms sales to the US played a role in facilitating a contentious bailout from the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
Reportedly, the arms sales were conducted with the aim of providing the Ukrainian military with various munitions, including 155mm shells. However, Islamabad has explicitly denied this claim, emphasizing its commitment to a policy of 'strict neutrality' in the Russia-Ukraine war.
Image Source: The Washington Post
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