Threat to expanding Israel-India ties: Envoy says blast near embassy someone’s attempt to send a message

anuary 29 blast on Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Road took place a little after 5 pm when the Beating retreat ceremony was underway just a few kilometres in the

The January 29 blast on Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Road took place a little after 5 pm when the Beating retreat ceremony was underway just a few kilometres in the heart of New Delhi.

New Delhi: Israel’s Ambassador to India, Ron Malka on Friday expressed satisfaction with the investigation being conducted into the January 29 blast near the Israeli embassy here. The explosion was caused by a low-intensity improvised explosive device (IED) and a suspected Iranian link has emerged in the investigation.

The Israeli envoy told a news agency today that both Israel and India will collaborate in areas wherever required.

“Indian authorities are conducting an intensive probe. We're waiting to see results. Collaboration between Israel and India in many aspects, including counter-terrorism, has been there for a long time. Whatever will be needed for collaboration, it'll be there,” Malka said.

“The friendship and collaboration between Israel and India are steadily and rapidly growing. One week ago we marked 29 years of very fruitful and successful relations between the two countries,” the ambassador noted, in remarks given to ANI.

The envoy noted that the blast was probably an attempt to send out a message as India and Israel expand their bilateral relations.

“It might not be a coincidence that the terror attack occurred on the day that marked 29 years of collaboration between Israel and India. Maybe someone wants to send a message or someone doesn't like it. Or there's a threat to expanding relations with India, it's a possibility,” he said.

The probe into the blast on Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Road, which took place a little after 5 pm at a time when the Beating retreat ceremony was underway just a few kilometres away with the President and the Prime Minister in presence, is being conducted by the National Investigation Agency (NIA).

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