Pahalgam Incident Unveils Hamas-Pakistan Connection, Fueling Terrorism from PoK to Bangladesh

New Delhi, April 25 (NationPress) The deadly alliance between the terror organization Hamas and Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) has once again come to light as their network and operations expand from Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) to the streets of Bangladesh, following the brutal killing of innocent civilians in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir.

Intelligence officials have identified numerous alarming similarities between the tactics deployed by the four attackers—two of whom hail from Pakistan—in the Pahalgam incident and the heinous acts committed by Hamas terrorists in Israel in October 2023.

Sources indicate that all four terrorists underwent training in PoK, where Hamas has established a training program in camps run by terrorist groups Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) and Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), both of which operate under the full support of the ISI.

In February, Hamas leaders released by Israel were taken to Pakistan at the government's request and subsequently met with Lashkar and Jaish terrorists in PoK.

During their journey to these terror camps, Hamas leaders were showcased as liberators, paraded on horseback in the streets of Rawalakot.

Hamas spokespersons Khaled al-Qaddoumi and Naji Zaheer, along with leaders Mufti Azam and Bilal Alsallat, attended a rally in Rawalkot, which was also graced by Talha Saif, the sibling of JeM chief Masood Azhar, and various high-ranking terror commanders from both factions, including Asghar Khan Kashmiri and Masood Ilyas.

The event, dubbed 'Kashmir Solidarity and Hamas Operation Al Aqsa Flood', aimed to communicate that both Kashmir and Palestine are subjects of pan-Islamic Jihad, calling for the Ummah to unite against India and Israel by playing the victimhood card.

Several leaders in India, alongside the Israeli Ambassador, have expressed grave concerns regarding Pakistan's collaboration with terrorist organizations to incite turmoil in the region.

"Unfortunately, terrorist organizations operate in networks, often discovering ways to support each other, which harms multiple nations, not just ours," remarked Reuven Azar, Israel's Ambassador to India, in an exclusive interview with IANS on February 26, 2025.

"The recent meeting in territories controlled by Pakistan in Kashmir among Hamas leaders indicates how these terrorist factions inspire one another... They appear to be coordinating efforts to achieve their mutual goal of terrorizing us and you. This is something we must consider," Azar added.

Previously, in October 2024, the ISI had also transported Hamas leaders to Dhaka to foster a similar radical ideology aimed at perpetrating terror attacks in India's North Eastern states.

The gathering organized by Al Markazul Islami, a group with direct ties to al-Qaeda, featured high-profile Hamas and Pakistani Islamist figures.

The founder of this organization, Mufti Shahidul Islam, who passed away in 2023, had established connections with al-Qaeda, fueling anxiety over the motivations behind this event.

Islam, a notorious figure in the Islamist militancy landscape in Bangladesh, had previously been arrested in 1999 for orchestrating a deadly bombing at an Ahmadiyya mosque in Khulna, resulting in eight fatalities. Following his release, he traveled to Afghanistan, Pakistan, and various African nations, where he received direct explosives training from al-Qaeda. Even posthumously, his influence remains potent, with extremist groups like Jamatul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) continuing to view him as a pivotal figure in their operations.

The Dhaka event on October 7 was attended by senior Hamas leaders, including spokesperson Sheikh Khaled Quddumi, Sheikh Khaled Mishal, and the Chairman of Hamas' Political Bureau, Mufti Shahidul Islam. Prominent Islamist figures from Pakistan, such as Shaikhul Islam Mufti Taqi Usmani and Maulana Fazlur Rahman, both influential in radical circles, were also present.

Pakistan's entrenched relations with global terror organizations have raised alarms across the globe, from Washington to Jerusalem.

Drawing parallels between Tuesday's terror incident in Kashmir and the October 7 massacre in 2023, Israeli Ambassador to India Reuven Azar condemned the horrific terrorist ambush on innocent civilians in Pahalgam, branding it as "barbaric" and "atrocious", asserting that the invitation extended to Hamas terrorists in Pakistan signifies ominous developments ahead.

"This is a shocking and unacceptable attack. Individuals deserve the right to enjoy vacations without facing such horrific violence. We must take all necessary measures, not only to apprehend the perpetrators but also to prevent similar incidents in the future," Azar expressed in an exclusive conversation with IANS.

Long before Pahalgam, he had voiced concerns regarding the Palestinian terror group Hamas collaborating with Jaish and Lashkar terrorists in PoK.

"Terrorism cannot be tolerated, contextualized, or justified. The fact that terrorists are being not only hosted but embraced by other organizations is absolutely intolerable. The presence of Hamas terrorists in Pakistan is a disturbing signal for the future because these terrorists are learning from each other and inspiring one another. We must defend ourselves against them," he stated on Thursday.

"The situation is eerily similar: innocent people attending a music festival were massacred, and here, vacationers were also brutally attacked. This reflects the same death cult, the same twisted interpretation of religion, and the same supremacist ideologies—believing that by violating every norm of humanity, they can achieve something. This needs to be completely eradicated. That’s why Israel has committed to tackling Hamas decisively. We will persist in this endeavor while defending our principles, laws, and values, and I am confident that India will do the same," Azar continued.

Expressing a commitment to share intelligence, the Ambassador commended the government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi for its "tremendous achievements" in stabilizing Jammu and Kashmir, noting that Israel has much to learn from India's approach.

"I trust the Indian government will do what is necessary; they possess the intelligence. They are well-aware of the terrain and the nature of both the terrorists and their sponsors. I am genuinely pleased with the determination shown by the Indian leadership, not just from the defense forces but also within the foreign policy establishment, led by the Prime Minister and the entire leadership. This is a pivotal moment, and it is only natural that India will take decisive action and declare that enough is enough," the Israeli Ambassador concluded.