By successfully launching the Israel-made satellites TecSAR and Risat-2 into the space, ISRO has indeed added a new feather in its cap. That the two satellites are identical in many respects including their weight and orbit, and also that both are meant for spying – Israel’s TecSAR to spy on Iran and India’s Risat-2 to keep an eye on Indo-Pak border, have vindicated India as a strategic partner to Israel on defence matters. This situation might also lead India to join hands with Israel to serve its interests in West Asia by ditching the time-tested friendship with Arab nations. True to the dictum – a bird in hand is better than two in the bush – it is useful to mend relations with Pakistan by sustained diplomatic efforts rather than befriending the belligerent Israel.
Syed Sultan Mohiddin
Kadapa, Andhra Pradesh