Israel envoy uncovers Hamas-Pakistan terror ties ahead of Pahalgam massacre, warns of global jihadist nexus

Two months before the brutal Pahalgam attack that left 26 civilians dead, senior Hamas leaders secretly met with Pakistani terrorist outfits in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), Israel's Ambassador to India, Reuven Azar, has revealed.

Drawing chilling parallels with Hamas’s October 2023 assault on Israel, Azar warned that global terror groups are now forging deeper collaborations, posing heightened threats worldwide.

“There are striking similarities between the Pahalgam massacre and the October 7 attacks in Israel," Azar said in an interview. "Innocent tourists were relaxing in Pahalgam, just as music festival-goers in Israel were brutally targeted."

The October 2023 Hamas attack claimed the lives of over 1,200 Israelis and triggered Israel’s ongoing military campaign in Gaza.

Hamas’ PoK visit raises red flags

Investigations by Indian intelligence agencies found that senior Hamas figures — including spokespersons Khalid Qaddoumi and Naji Zaheer — attended a public rally in PoK’s Rawalakot on Feb 5.

The gathering, titled 'Kashmir Solidarity and Hamas Operation Al Aqsa Flood', drew nearly 100 foreign militants and coincided with Pakistan’s annual 'Kashmir Solidarity Day'.

Photos and footage from the rally showed Hamas leaders donning shawls emblazoned with the flags of Pakistan, Palestine, and Hamas — marking the first known public appearance of Palestinian militant leaders in PoK.

Security experts view this unprecedented presence as a calculated attempt to forge an ideological and operational link between Pakistan’s jihadist movements and Hamas’s anti-Israel insurgency, branding both under the narrative of "resistance against occupation."

Hamas’ expanding footprint in Pakistan

The Rawalakot rally is just the tip of the iceberg. Intelligence sources reveal that Hamas delegations have frequently traveled to Pakistan over the past year, especially following the October 2023 attacks.

In a significant escalation, Hamas leaders recently visited the headquarters of Pakistan-based terror group Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) in Bahawalpur and toured a nearby Pakistani Army facility, an installation personally inaugurated by Army chief General Asim Munir — a move seen as symbolically and strategically provocative.

Further, Hamas spokesperson Qaddoumi was even invited to address Pakistan’s Parliament earlier this year, signaling Islamabad’s growing public embrace of the group.

In Karachi, Hamas organized a mass rally where Qaddoumi hailed Pakistan as an "elder brother," applauding it for hosting Palestinian prisoners freed under a ceasefire deal.

Pakistan's desperate moves in PoK amid Indian pressure

The timing of these high-profile Hamas visits aligns with Pakistan’s intensified political and military activity in PoK. Just a day before the Rawalakot rally, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and General Munir made a rare joint visit to Muzaffarabad, signaling Islamabad’s mounting anxiety over India’s increasingly assertive stance on reclaiming PoK.

Indian Defense Minister Rajnath Singh and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar have both openly declared that PoK would inevitably seek reunion with India, fueled by the region witnessing Kashmir’s post-Article 370 resurgence.

Israel pushes India to brand Hamas a terror group

In the wake of these revelations, Israel has renewed calls for India to officially designate Hamas as a terrorist organization. Although New Delhi condemned the October 7 attacks and expressed solidarity with Israel, it has so far refrained from banning Hamas under its anti-terror laws, maintaining its traditional diplomatic ties with Palestine.

Israeli officials highlight that while India proscribed Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) — the group behind the 2008 Mumbai attacks — after evidence sharing, a similar step against Hamas is now vital to counter growing jihadist alliances.

“The terrorists are collaborating at all levels, trying to mimic each other's tactics," Azar warned. “Intelligence agencies must work hand-in-hand globally to defeat this evolving threat.”