Pakistan's New Drone Deal Struck With Trump-Backed Firm That Also Sells to India

Pakistan has agreed to a new drone procurement deal with a company that has ties to US President Donald Trump. Notably, the same firm also supplies drone technology to India, Pakistan's longtime regional rival, with which relations have repeatedly escalated into military tension.

The deal is further notable because one of the company's cofounders is a former soldier in the Israeli armed forces. This adds a layer of political complexity, since Pakistan has never formally recognised the state of Israel and the two countries have no diplomatic relations.

Geopolitical context

The arrangement highlights a broader trend in the defence and drone technology sector, where lines between geopolitical rivals and adversaries are increasingly blurred. A single private company can simultaneously do business with both India and Pakistan, two states whose relationship has long been tense and has repeatedly brought them to the brink of military conflict.

The fact that one of the company's founders has a background in the Israeli military adds to this complicated picture, given Pakistan's traditionally critical stance toward Israel and its support for Palestinian statehood.

Detailed information about the financial scale of the deal, the specific drone models involved, or the exact timing of the agreement has not been publicly disclosed at this stage.