On October 7, 2023, Hamas and several associated groups launched coordinated series of terror attacks inside Israel from Gaza Strip. This was the first invasion of Israel since 1948. Jews were specifically targeted in the attacks which claimed over 1,000 lives. Hamas men also kidnapped around 250 men and women.
Cut to 2025 India’s picturesque Pahalgam in Jammu and Kashmir. In what’s been seen as the worst terror attack on the Indian soil since 2008 Mumbai attacks, 28 people, mostly tourists were gunned down outside a resort in Baisaran Valley on April 22. While experts are debating over the Hamas-like tactics, the links from Pakistan to Palestine are proving to be a bigger plot for security agencies.
Latest intelligence reports say that several inputs have painted a grim picture. The robust coordination between Hamas and other deep state actors in Pakistan shows a radical nexus.
On April 22, terrorists with bodycams specifically identified men on basis of their religious identities and then shot them in head, which is a stark reminder of what happened on October 7 two years back.
Now, agencies are saying that from February till April, there have been several instances of Hamas leaders being openly invited by Pakistani government. In now viral clips from Rawalkot, Hamas leaders such as senior figures Mufti Azam, Dr Khalid Qaddoumi, Bilal Alsallat and Dr Naji Zaheer can be seen. In this event, Jaish-e-Mohammed’s chief Masood Azhar’s brother was also present.
Intel inputs say that out of four terrorists involved in the Pahalagam attack, two were locals and two were from Pakistan. All of them were trained at the camps in Pakistan Occupied Kashmir. What’s worst for Indian agencies is the fact that not only terror groups such as Lashkar and Jaish, Hamas has also set up an elaborate training module in PoK. This ecosystem is being funded by the ISI, Indian agencies claim.
New Delhi has confirmed that some senior Hamas leaders had travelled to Islamabad on government’s invitation. Held under the banner of “Kashmir Solidarity and Hamas Operation Al Aqsa Flood", the rally was an attempt to bring Kashmir and Palestine Jihad on the same page. In fact, last year also, Hamas leader Qaddoumi was reportedly invited to address Pakistan Parliament.
Apart from Pakistan, Hamas is also trying to hold some ground in Bangladesh as well. A news18 report says that last year, the ISI had taken some key Hamas leaders to Dhaka to seed similar radical ideology in India’s NorthEast region.
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