In a 1st, Hamas attends terror gathering in PoK with Jaish, Lashkar leaders

Top commanders of Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) and Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), alongside senior Hamas representatives, were part of a gathering of terrorist leaders in Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK) on Wednesday, cementing Pakistan's deep-rooted ties with global terror outfits. Pakistan observes February 5 as Kashmir Solidarity Day, seen as a propaganda exercise to push its anti-India agenda.

The event, titled "Kashmir Solidarity and Hamas Operation 'Al Aqsa Flood' Conference", took place at Shaheed Sabir Stadium in Rawalakote. Among the key attendees were Talha Saif, brother of Jaish-e-Mohammed chief Masood Azhar, Jaish commanders Asghar Khan Kashmiri and Masood Ilyas, and top LeT leaders.

Dr Khalid Al-Qadoumi, Hamas's representative in Iran, also took part in the meeting, marking the first-ever visit of a Hamas leader to PoK. Several other Palestinian leaders linked to Hamas were also present. Al-Qadoumi also held a separate meeting with Maulana Fazlur Rehman, chief of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (F).

The development exposes Pakistan's role as a sponsor of terrorist activities. Both Jaish-e-Mohammed and Lashkar-e-Taiba have carried out multiple attacks on Indian soil, including the 2001 Parliament attack, the 2008 Mumbai attacks, and the 2019 Pulwama bombing.

Their presence at an official event in PoK lays bare Pakistan's continued sheltering and promotion of terrorism under the guise of "Kashmir solidarity".

Hamas, a Palestinian terror outfit that was recently involved in a war with Israel, has largely kept its activities limited to the Middle East.

However, its participation in a Pakistan-backed conference signals an expansion of its influence and growing links with Pakistan-based terror outfits. It also indicates Pakistan's active involvement with global terrorist organisations to fuel unrest in the region.

Intelligence sources have previously warned of Hamas's potential engagement with radical elements in South Asia.