Won't do anything that could undermine India's security: Israel

NEW DELHI: Israel today strongly denied selling any military equipment to Pakistan, saying that it would "not do anything that could undermine" India's security.

"The State of Israel strongly denies selling any military equipment to Pakistan. Israel has a long-standing strategic relationship with India, a democracy that also understands what it means to fight terror, and a country we see as a strategic anchor in global affairs," a statement from the Israeli embassy here said.

It also said, "The State of Israel would not do anything that could undermine India's security."

According to a report released by Britain's Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, which deals with British government permits for arms and security equipment exports, Israel has exported military equipment, including hi-tech gear used in combat jets, over the past five years to Pakistan.

The Israeli embassy also said that its Ministry of Defence will be liaising with the UK Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS)--the body responsible for export licensing--in order to receive the necessary clarifications regarding their official reports.

India is Israel's largest purchaser of security equipment and the Jewish state's sale to Pakistan can be damaging to Indo-Israel defence ties.