India has requested the Netherlands to desist from providing arms, weapon systems, and military technologies to Pakistan due to its role in sponsoring cross-border terrorism. The request was made during a high-level meeting between Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and his Dutch counterpart Ruben Brekelmans on Tuesday.
The two decided to enhance bilateral defence cooperation on security, information sharing, maritime cooperation in the Indo-Pacific, and new technologies like AI and drones. But the most important takeaway from the meeting was Singh’s strong assertion on arms supplies to Pakistan.
![](data:image/svg+xml;charset=utf-8,<svg height="1080px" width="1920px" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" version="1.1"/>)
![](data:image/svg+xml;charset=utf-8,<svg height="541px" width="962px" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" version="1.1"/>)
![](data:image/svg+xml;charset=utf-8,<svg height="364px" width="647px" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" version="1.1"/>)
![](data:image/svg+xml;charset=utf-8,<svg height="453px" width="804px" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" version="1.1"/>)
![](data:image/svg+xml;charset=utf-8,<svg height="168px" width="300px" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" version="1.1"/>)
Concerns Over Regional Stability
Singh highlighted that arming Pakistan with defence equipment destabilizes and weakens South Asia’s security. “Singh said India has been fighting Pakistan-sponsored terrorism in J&K and elsewhere for decades. India tells all friendly countries that they should not arm Pakistan in any way due to its state policy of fueling terrorism in other countries,” a source disclosed to TOI.
The Netherlands has also supplied Pakistan with military equipment in the past, such as two Alkmaar-class mine countermeasures and 1,900-tonne multi-role offshore patrol vessels from Damen Shipyards. “Several Dutch companies are interacting with Pakistan in the military arena, especially in the naval domain,” another source told to TOI.
India’s Diplomatic Push Against Terrorism
India has deepened its diplomatic pushback against terrorism and Sikh separatism. In a recent meeting with New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon, Prime Minister Narendra Modi requested enhanced cooperation in stemming pro-Khalistani forces.
In another significant diplomatic interaction, Singh appealed to US Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard to list Sikhs For Justice (SFJ), a pro-Khalistani group that is proscribed in India, as a foreign terrorist organization.
Strengthening India-Netherlands Defence Collaboration
In the India-Netherlands defence talks, both countries discussed collaboration in shipbuilding, space technology, and weaponry. The officials pointed out that there was the possibility of collaboration by utilizing the capabilities and technological prowess of the two nations.
“They also discussed working together in domains like AI and related technologies, besides connecting the defence technology research institutes and organizations of the two countries,” a defence ministry official said to TOI.
Singh also urged Dutch armament companies to include Indian vendors in their supply chains, highlighting India’s increasing innovation and industrial landscape. Looking forward to more intensive and deeper defence cooperation, Singh said, “We look forward to further deepening and elevating our defence partnership.”
India continues to be interested in enhancing defence cooperation with the Netherlands to guarantee regional stability and counter terror threats emanating from Pakistan.
