Dhaka, Feb 7 (NationPress) The Israeli Ambassador to India, Reuven Azar, has expressed significant alarm regarding the increasing presence of Hamas in South Asia, particularly through collaborations with local Islamist factions in Bangladesh and Pakistan. This activity forms a key component of the terrorist organization's extensive plan to broaden its influence both regionally and globally.

“By fostering connections and expanding operations beyond the confines of Gaza, particularly through prominent Hamas figures like Sheikh Khaled Quddumi and Khaled Mashal, Hamas seeks to ensure a steady stream of funding, ideological backing, and logistical support,” Azar revealed in an interview with Bangladesh’s weekly Blitz media outlet.

“This expansion enables the group to forge alliances with local Islamist factions, thereby enhancing its influence and operational capacity throughout South Asia,” he noted.

Azar also highlighted that Pakistan's ties with this militant organization, rooted in a broader strategy involving jihadist proxies, present a direct threat to the nation itself.

“The ongoing support for extremist organizations such as Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad brings considerable long-term dangers to any nation. Historical evidence indicates that networks established abroad can eventually turn against domestic populations, fostering radicalization, undermining state institutions, and leading to internal security threats,” he articulated.

A recent report from a senior investigative journalist in Bangladesh noted the arrival of four Lashkar-e-Taiba operatives from Karachi to Dhaka on Biman flight BG-342.

The claim, made by Sahidul Hasan Khokon, suggested that this incident reveals the perilous facilitation of terrorist infiltration into Bangladesh by the interim regime led by Mohammad Yunus, which is accused of having a pro-Islamist and pro-Pakistan stance, as reported by local media.

This development coincides with the resumption of direct flights between Bangladesh and Pakistan, raising serious security alarms. Critics point to lax border controls and state complacency towards militants, posing potential risks to India's eastern frontiers.

In a previous article from July last year, Salah Uddin Shoaib Choudhury, the editor of Blitz, noted that on September 7, 2024, a local Islamist group in Bangladesh reportedly hosted senior figures from Hamas, including Sheikh Khaled Quddumi and Khaled Mashal.

Ambassador Reuven Azar elaborated on the implications of such terrorist leaders operating in nations like Bangladesh and Pakistan, referencing the horrific attack carried out by Hamas on October 7, 2023, which resulted in over 1,200 casualties in Israel. He linked this to the Pahalgam terror incident in terms of style and execution.

“Alarmingly, radical Islamists see the October 7 terrorist attack executed by Hamas as a template. They aspire to replicate these tactics and spread them globally. The events we witnessed in 2023 are being mirrored in Pahalgam and can proliferate elsewhere. This is why Hamas leaders are being invited and, shockingly, celebrated. The global community must unite to isolate those who support or finance terrorism,” he stated.

Ambassador Azar also emphasized the significance of Israel's expanding strategic collaboration with India, stating, “Both nations confront intricate security challenges requiring proactive measures.” Their partnership encompasses areas like counterterrorism, intelligence sharing, and defense technology.

“Our alliance has matured into a strong framework that includes formal defense pacts, collaborative discussions on mutual challenges, and joint efforts in advanced technology, reflecting profound trust and practical benefits for both parties,” he said.

“This collaboration fortifies our capabilities to identify and thwart threats, enhances our defense sectors through co-development and co-production of essential systems, and builds resilience against emerging security challenges,” the Ambassador noted.

“As allies, India and Israel are better equipped to safeguard their citizens and contribute to a more stable region through ongoing engagement and shared expertise,” he added.

He further emphasized that the threat posed by transnational networks associated with the Muslim Brotherhood or its ideological offshoots, such as Jamaat-e-Islami, is real and must not be overlooked.

According to him, these organizations frequently operate across borders, influencing communities, financing extremist actions, or offering ideological support to militant entities.