On February 5, an event took place in Rawalakot, Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), where leaders of Palestine-based terror group, Hamas, were present with members of two other global terror outfits, Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) and Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT). This alarming gathering took place to mark the so-called Kashmir Solidarity Day in Pakistan. The gathering of members of dreaded terror outfits has raised alerts in India’s security establishment. It has put Indian Intelligence agencies on high alert, knowing the motives, past actions and brutality of these outfits on innocent citizens in India.
Hamas and Pakistani Terror Groups: A Formal Alliance
At the gathering, JeM terrorists were seen providing security to Hamas leaders on stage, and a Jaish terrorist openly declared that Hamas and Pakistani jihadi groups had united. Among the key attendees were Talha Saif, brother of Jaish-e-Mohammad chief Masood Azhar, JeM commanders Asghar Khan Kashmiri and Masood Ilyas, and top LeT terrorists.
Dr. Khalid Al-Qadoumi, Hamas’s representative in Iran, was also part of the meeting, marking the first visit by a Hamas leader to PoK. Several other Palestinian leaders affiliated with Hamas were also present. In addition, Al-Qadoumi held a separate meeting with Maulana Fazlur Rehman, chief of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (F), to ‘strengthen’ ties between Pakistan terror outfits and Hamas.
Anti-India Hate Speech and Terror Threats
Among these three terror outfits, the glaring commonality can be observed – all three are religiously driven organisations which thrive on the idea of Jihad. During the event, terrorist leaders openly spewed venom against India, issuing direct threats against Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah.
One terrorist proclaimed that fighters (read terrorists) from Palestine and Kashmir had united to shed blood in Delhi, separate Kashmir from India, and break the country into pieces. These are not mere rhetoric; these organisations have previously carried out terror attacks in India and have been attempting to repeat the same again and again, under Pakistan’s infamous strategy to target India, – bleed India with thousand cuts.
However, the Indian security forces are on high alert and kept these anti-India terror outfits under Pakistan’s patronage at bay.
Pakistan’s Long-Standing Support for Hamas
Pakistan has had longstanding ties with the Hamas terror group, with its military providing training to Hamas terrorists, particularly in air and naval operations. Pakistan’s Special Services Group (SSG) commandos have reportedly trained Hamas terrorists, many of whom have been involved in terror attacks against Israel. In addition to military support, Pakistan has also been a financial backer of Hamas. In the aftermath of the recent Israel-Gaza conflict, Pakistani leaders met Hamas officials in Qatar to further deepen their ‘relationship’.
Hamas has previously voiced support for Pakistan’s anti-India narrative, frequently speaking against India on the so-called Kashmir issue. Intelligence agencies have warned that Hamas’ engagement with Pakistani terrorist groups could heighten security threats in South Asia, particularly in Kashmir and beyond.
According to the South Asia Terrorism Portal, the number of terrorist activities has increased in South Asia in the last three years. In 2022, the number of people killed in terrorist attacks was 668, and it went up to 1115 in 2024. Terrorist outfits meeting publically in Pakistan pose direct security to India.
India’s Response: High Alert and Security Meetings
Following intelligence reports about the gathering of top JeM, LeT, and Hamas leaders in PoK, Indian security agencies were placed on high alert. Indian Home Minister Amit Shah convened two high-level meetings on Jammu and Kashmir’s security situation. It was attended by senior officials, including Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, Union Home Secretary Govind Mohan, Director of Intelligence Bureau Tapan Deka, DGP Nalin Prabhat, and Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi.
HM Shah reaffirmed the Modi government’s commitment to achieve zero infiltration and eradicate terrorist networks. He emphasised that the sustained efforts of the government and armed forces had seriously weakened the terror infrastructure in Jammu and Kashmir.
“Our goal should be to uproot the existence of terrorists,” he stated.
A Dangerous Expansion of Global Terror Networks
The presence of Hamas leaders in an event in PoK is a clear signal that Pakistan is actively working to promote terrorist networks. Ironically, the gathering was labelled as a “narrative-building exercise.”
It was aimed at equating the Kashmir issue with the Palestinian conflict. Thereby trying to legitimise cross-border terrorism under the guise of religion. It also indicates that Hamas is trying to get another ground for their operation after being destroyed in Gaza, and what will be a better place than Pakistan? Pakistan has provided land, resources, shelter and security for terrorists and terror outfits.
The collaboration of Hamas with Pakistani terror groups could be the most serious threat to India. Intelligence reports have already sounded alarms over increasing radicalisation in South Asia because of Hamas’s reach into Pakistani terror factions, an eventuality that may pose sprawling implications for regional and international stability.
Incidentally, last year, TFI had flagged an alarming meeting of terror outfits that took place in Bangladesh. The controversial religious event had taken place in Dhaka, Bangladesh. The event was organised by “Al Markazul Islami” and it attracted several radical Islamist leaders from terrorist groups such as Hamas, the Taliban, and Pakistan-based outfits. The commanders of these extremist factions also delivered sermons at the event.