Hamas Leaders Met With Pakistani Terror Groups in PoK Before Pahalgam Attack, Israel Envoy Says
Hamas in Pakistan: A Growing Concern
The recent terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, which killed 26 civilians, has alarming similarities to the Hamas-led massacre in Israel last year, according to Israel’s Ambassador to India, Reuven Azar. He pointed out the tragic parallels between innocent tourists enjoying their vacation in Pahalgam and people celebrating at a music festival in Israel that were targeted in the attacks.
Azar, speaking to PTI, emphasized the growing collaboration between global terror groups, stating, “The terrorists are collaborating at all levels and trying to be copycats of each other. I am sure the intelligence agencies are working together to defeat them.”
Unprecedented Visit to PoK
Investigations, as reported by The Times of India (TOI), reveal that two months before the Pahalgam attack, senior Hamas figures made an unprecedented visit to Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) for a public gathering. According to Indian intelligence reports, Hamas spokespersons Khalid Qaddoumi and Naji Zaheer, along with leaders Mufti Azam and Bilal Alsallat, attended a rally in Rawalakot on February 5, 2025.
The rally, titled ‘Kashmir Solidarity and Hamas Operation Al Aqsa Flood’, was attended by almost 100 foreign militants. Photographs and footage from the event, reported by Moneycontrol.com, show Hamas leaders wearing shawls adorned with the flags of Pakistan, Palestine, and Hamas. This marked the first known visit by Palestinian militant leaders to PoK.
Linking Jihadi Campaigns
Indian security officials view this gathering as a deliberate attempt to link Pakistan’s jihadi campaign in Kashmir with Hamas’s struggle against Israel, portraying both as “resistance against occupation.”
Growing Ties Between Hamas and Pakistan
The Rawalakot rally wasn’t an isolated incident. Hamas representatives have made numerous visits to Pakistan in the past year, particularly after their October 2023 attack on Israel. A Hamas team recently visited the headquarters of Jaish-e-Mohammed in Bahawalpur, Pakistan, and even toured a Pakistani Army facility close to the Indian border. Hamas spokesperson Qaddoumi was also invited to address Pakistan’s Parliament in January 2024.
India’s Stance and Israel’s Concerns
Following the revelation of Hamas leaders’ visit to PoK, Israel has once again urged India to formally classify Hamas as a terrorist organization. While India condemned the October 7 attacks and expressed strong solidarity with Israel against terrorism, it has not yet proscribed Hamas under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act. India continues to maintain diplomatic ties with Palestine and supports a two-state solution. Israel outlawed Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) in 2023 for its role in the 2008 Mumbai attacks and hopes India will soon designate Hamas as a terrorist organization.
