SRINAGAR: A conference held in Pakistan-occupied Jammu & Kashmir (PoJK) has revealed growing ties between Hamas and Pakistan-based terror groups Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) and Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT).
The event, named Kashmir Solidarity and Hamas Operation โAl Aqsa Floodโ Conference, was organized at Shaheed Sabir Stadium, where a JeM terrorist declared their alliance. โThe Mujahideen of Palestine and Kashmir now stand together. It is time for bloodshed in Delhi and to break Kashmir away from India,โ a JeM terrorist proclaimed from the stage.
The gathering was attended by top terrorists, including Talha Saif, brother of Jaish-e-Mohammed chief Masood Azhar, senior commanders Asghar Khan Kashmiri and Masood Ilyas, and prominent figures from Lashkar-e-Taiba. Hamas was represented by Dr. Khalid Al-Qadoumi, its envoy in Iran, marking the first official Hamas presence at an event in PoJK. Several Palestinian leaders also participated.
Videos circulating online show Hamas leaders arriving at the stadium in luxury SUVs, escorted by JeM and LeT militants on motorcycles and horseback. Another clip captures a rally where JeM and LeT operatives paraded the Palestinian groupโs flag through the streets, showering Hamas representatives with flower petals.
The incident further exposes Pakistanโs support for terrorist activities. JeM and LeT have carried out multiple attacks on Indian soil, including the 2001 Parliament attack, the 2008 Mumbai attacks, and the 2019 Pulwama bombing. Their presence at an officially organized event in PoJK underscores Pakistanโs continued patronage of terrorism under the guise of โKashmir solidarity.โ
Pakistan has long been linked to Hamas, providing military trainingโparticularly in air and naval combatโthrough its Special Services Group (SSG). Pakistani funding has also supported Hamas operations. Following the recent Israel-Gaza war, Pakistani officials met Hamas representatives in Qatar, further strengthening ties.
On October 7, 2023, Israel faced one of its worst attacks when Hamas terrorists infiltrated Israeli territory from Gaza, launching rocket barrages and taking hostages. Around 1,300 people were killed, and horrifying videos showed civilians, including women and children, being paraded and brutalized. Some hostages have since been released in negotiated deals.
Until now, Hamas operated primarily in the Middle East. However, its growing presence in PoJK and coordination with Pakistani terror groups signal an expansion into South Asia. In 2023, Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh called for a united Islamist front in support of Palestine and Kashmir. Notably, in June 2024, Haniyeh and his bodyguard were killed in an airstrike in Tehran.
The event in PoJK has raised concerns about a deepening nexus between Hamas and Pakistan-based terrorist organizations, posing a new security challenge for India and the region.
