By APD writer Rishika Chauhan

NEW DELHI, February 2 (APD) - Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will be visiting India in February to meet Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, according to recent reports.

The dates for the visit have not been finalised yet, though he is expected to be in New Delhi on February 11.

It will be Netanyahu’s second visit to India, earlier he had visited Delhi in 2018 in the month of January.

That visit was special as the two countries marked 25 years of their diplomatic ties in 2018. In 2017, Modi visited Israel and upgraded the partnership to the strategic level.

2019 is special for both Netanyahu and Modi as elections will take place in both the countries this year. The Israeli Prime Minister is currently facing corruption charges along with his wife.

Moreover, visits have been frequent between the leaders of both the states. Israel’s National Security Adviser Meir Ben-Shabbat has also visited India and met Ajit Doval and Modi.

India and Israel have strong defence ties. During Israeli prime Minister’s February visit a defence deal is expected to be finalised, wherein India will place a follow-up order for 15 Harop attack drones, which can carry up to 23 kilograms of explosives.

(ASIA PACIFIC DAILY)