Social media users say India is following ‘Israeli playbook’ in Pakistan

Social media users have likened India’s retaliatory strikes on Pakistan to the Israeli bombardment of the Gaza Strip, saying that New Delhi is following an “Israeli playbook” in its response to the Pahalgam terror attack, which killed 26 civilians, mostly tourists.

Two weeks after India accused Pakistan of harboring terrorists and being involved in the attack on April 22, the Indian army on Wednesday launched a series of precision strikes on what it called “terrorist infrastructure” in Pakistan and Pakistani Kashmir.

Following the strikes, Israel’s ambassador to India supported New Delhi’s right to defend itself against terrorism, a narrative that Israel has often invoked since its bombardment of Gaza began on October 7, 2023, when Hamas killed about 1,200 people in southern Israel and took some 251 hostages, according to Israeli tallies. Since then, Israeli strikes have killed more than 51,300 Palestinians, according to Gaza health authorities.

“Israel supports India’s right for self-defense. Terrorists should know there’s no place to hide from their heinous crimes against the innocent,” Ambassador Reuven Azar posted on X.

Several social media users condemned India’s strikes on Pakistan, given that they were conducted before officially investigating the Pahalgam attack. Many suggested India was emboldened by Israel’s bombardment of Gaza and the perceived impunity it has received from other world actors.

A day after the attack on tourists in Indian Kashmir, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had offered his condolences to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, adding that “Israel stands with India in its fight against terrorism” in a post on X.

India accuses Pakistan-based terrorist organizations, including Lashkar-e-Taiba, Jaish-e-Mohammed, and Hizbul Mujahideen, for the Pahalgam terror attack.

However, Pakistan denies any involvement in the attack and has vowed to retaliate against the missile strikes, and said it shot down five Indian aircraft.

The Indian embassy in Beijing termed reports of fighter jets being shot down as “misinformation.”

Ties between India and Israel have recently strengthened after Modi became the first Indian leader to visit the country in 2017.