Washington, Oct 21 – New evidence suggests that Pakistan is becoming a fresh hub for Hamas, the militant group that launched a deadly attack on Israel on Oct 7.
Officials say Hamas’s envoy in Pakistan, Naji Zaheer, has been welcomed at rallies, conferences and on television. He has spoken alongside the US‑designated terror groups Lashkar‑e‑Taiba and Jaish‑e‑Muhammad, indicating that Islamabad may be tolerating – or even supporting – Hamas’s agenda.
Anna Mahjar‑Barducci, a project director at the Middle East Media Research Institute, noted that Zaheer’s public presence in Pakistan has grown rapidly. “Since early October 2023 he has become a regular at high‑profile pro‑Palestine events that blend anti‑Israel rhetoric with jihadist networking,” she wrote.
Just days after the Oct 7 assault, Zaheer spoke at a pro‑Palestine rally in Peshawar. Hamas leader Khaled Mashal, who joined virtually, praised Pakistan’s support for the Palestinian cause. The following week, Zaheer appeared in a virtual “Toofan‑e‑Aqsa” conference in Karachi, organized by the Islamist party JUI‑F. During the event, Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh appealed to the Muslim ummah, saying the war fought for Palestine was a fight for all Muslims.
In January 2024, Zaheer used the Karachi Press Club as a platform to condemn Israel and urged Pakistani journalists to increase anti‑Israel coverage. Earlier in the year he also spoke at a “Death to Israel” conference in Peshawar, organized by JUI‑F.
The report argues that Pakistan’s role as a new base for Hamas calls into question its standing as a reliable partner in the global fight against terrorism and raises doubts about its status as a U.S. Major Non‑NATO Ally.
Kimberly Dunn, a senior analyst at the Middle East Forum, summed it up: “While the world focuses on demilitarizing Hamas in Gaza, we cannot ignore that Pakistan is becoming the next fertile ground for its ideology and operations.”
These developments highlight how terrorism networks continue to adapt and how countries with long‑standing security ties to the U.S. may inadvertently provide safe havens for extremist actors.
Source: ianslive
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