Sydney, Jan 10 (NationPress) The alarming reality that Pakistan is rapidly evolving into a prime location for Hamas to regain strength and align with other notorious terrorist factions across South Asia and the Middle East has been underscored once more. Recent viral footage has surfaced, revealing a high-ranking Hamas official sharing a platform with members of the banned Pakistani terror group Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) at a public gathering in Punjab province.

Reports indicate that the individual featured in the footage is Naji Zaheer, a senior commander of Hamas, who was participating in an event organized by the Pakistan Markazi Muslim League (PMML)—a political entity largely recognized by security analysts as a facade for LeT.

"This appearance has sparked significant concern among counter-terrorism experts. As of now, there has been no official confirmation or denial from the Pakistani government or military regarding this event. Photographs and videos circulating online depict Hamas and LeT-affiliated figures addressing an audience collectively. Analysts warn that such collaborations carry serious implications for both regional and global security dynamics," reported The Australia Today.

"In addition to formal addresses, social media posts show attendees chanting religious slogans during the event. These include declarations of 'Nara-e-Takbeer… Allahu Akbar' (translated as 'The slogan of greatness… God is the Greatest') and 'Filistiniyon se rishta kya… La ilaha illallah' (translated as 'What is our relationship with the Palestinians? There is no God but Allah')," the article noted, emphasizing that such slogans are often associated with Islamist extremists.

Last year, various reports highlighted the increasing footprint of Hamas in Pakistan. Hamas's special envoy in Pakistan, Naji Zaheer, has been a guest of honor at multiple rallies and has shared stages with US-designated Pakistani terror organizations such as Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) and Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT).

Experts assert that while the international community is preoccupied with disarming Hamas in Gaza, it must not overlook that Pakistan is becoming a new nurturing ground for the terrorist group.

A recent report from Geopolitico, based in Athens, revealed that Pakistani terror factions are capitalizing on the Gaza situation to generate funds for rebuilding terror infrastructures and enlisting fresh recruits for their operations against India.

The report highlighted that Pakistani state agencies have identified loopholes in the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), a global entity monitoring money laundering and terrorist financing, following Islamabad's recent greylisting, and have since modified their terror financing strategies.

“A troubling trend is surfacing in Pakistan, with UN-designated terrorist groups like Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) and Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) soliciting donations for illicit activities under the guise of Gaza relief aid. Notably, the direct involvement of JeM Chief Masood Azhar's family members has been observed in recent terror financing and funding initiatives,” stated the Geopolitico report.

“To evade global scrutiny from entities like the FATF, these organizations have revised their methods to garner donations and funding from within Pakistan and Gulf nations. They are now amassing funds directly into personal wallets rather than bank accounts to sidestep FATF oversight," it further explained.

According to the report, the Israel-Hamas conflict, ignited by Hamas's brutal attack on October 7, 2023, has provided a convenient disguise for Pakistani terror groups to intensify their fundraising efforts.

Reports claim that “Azhar’s son, Hammad Azhar, and brother Talha al-Saif are at the forefront of the initiative to raise funds for terrorist activities through aid for Gaza.