Washington, Oct 21 (NationPress) Pakistan has transformed into a new hub for Hamas operatives. While global efforts aim to demilitarize Hamas in Gaza, the emergence of Pakistan as a fertile ground for the group to rejuvenate cannot be overlooked, according to a recent report.

Since the attack on Israel by Hamas on October 7, Naji Zaheer, the group's special representative in Pakistan, has been prominently featured at various rallies and conferences, sharing the stage with US-designated terror organizations such as Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Muhammad. This indicates an apparent tolerance, if not an endorsement, of Hamas's agenda by Islamabad.

Anna Mahjar-Barducci, a Project Director at the Middle East Media Research Institute (MEMRI), noted, “Zaheer’s influence in Pakistan has surged significantly since October 2023, making him a constant presence at high-profile events that fuse pro-Palestine sentiments with jihadist networking. Living in Pakistan as a Hamas representative, Zaheer has addressed rallies and garnered praise from various professional groups.”

Just one week following the attack against Israeli civilians, Zaheer spoke at a pro-Palestine rally in Peshawar, which was virtually attended by Hamas leader Khaled Mashal, who expressed gratitude for Pakistan's support for the Palestinian people.

On November 2, Zaheer participated virtually in the 'Toofan-e-Aqsa conference,' a twelve-day protest event in Karachi, organized by Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman. During the event, then-Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh declared, “I address the entire Muslim Ummah. This war is not just for Palestine; it is for the entire Ummah.”

The report suggests that “Pakistan has become a new operational base for Hamas. This raises concerns about Islamabad’s credibility as a reliable ally in the global fight against terrorism and its status as a US Major Non-NATO ally.”

In January 2024, Naji Zaheer visited the Karachi Press Club, where he condemned Israel and urged Pakistani journalists to amplify anti-Israel narratives. Later that year, he attended the “Death to Israel” conference in Peshawar, organized by JUI-F. Further, the Hamas envoy in Tehran, Khaled Qaddoumi, has been promoting the terrorist group's agenda through media interactions and events at Pakistani institutions.

A report from the Middle East Forum cautioned that “the possibility of Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir evolving into a sanctuary for Hamas's ideology and operations is increasingly realistic. As the international community focuses on demilitarizing Hamas in Gaza, the situation in Pakistan as a rejuvenation ground for Hamas cannot be ignored.”