Published: 05:41 PM, 31 January 2026 Last Update: 05:51 PM, 31 January 2026
Hamas Finding New Grounds In Pakistan
A still from the rally conference shows Hamas's political leader Ismail Haniyeh addressing the gathering in Karachi via video link on November 2, 2023
On January 15, 2026, the U.S.-led intergovernmental organization Board of Peace, whose stated purpose is to "promote stability, restore dependable and lawful governance, and secure enduring peace in areas affected or threatened by conflict" in Gaza, was established. On January 18, U.S. President Donald Trump, acting as chair of the organization, invited Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to join it. However, Pakistan allows Hamas representatives to operate freely on its soil, participate in public events, and forge alliances with local militant groups. This conduct undermines Western efforts to diplomatically isolate Hamas and raises serious questions about whether the United States should continue to regard Pakistan as a "major non-NATO ally.
The following MEMRI analysis was originally published on September 20, 2025:
Pakistan is allowing Hamas representatives on their soil to operate freely, participate in public events, and forge alliances with local militant outfits. This behavior undermines Western efforts to isolate Hamas and puts under question whether the US should keep on considering Pakistan as a "major non-NATO ally."
Dr. Naji Zaheer is the current special representative to Hamas leader Khaled Mashal in Pakistan. Soon after the October 7 massacre, Zaheer's political activities in Pakistan to gather legitimacy and support for Hamas's terrorist activities intensified. Zaheer has been invited to participate in major events as a guest of honor and has become a fixture at anti-Israel rallies and conferences in Pakistan. Often, Zaheer shared stages with figures linked to U.S.-designated terrorist organizations like Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and Jaish-e-Muhammad (JeM).
In addition, as part of Hamas efforts to gather international support, the Special Representative of Hamas in Tehran, Dr. Khaled Qaddoumi, has also been since October 2023 participating actively in rallies and events at Pakistani institutions. The presence of Zaheer and Qaddoumi at events and rallies in Pakistan signals Islamabad's tacit support for Hamas's agenda. This should raise alarms in Washington as it realizes that Pakistan has no serious commitment to counterterrorism.
Major Islamist Political Party Organizes Pro-Hamas Events in Pakistan
On October 14, 2023 (just a week after the Hamas massacre against Israeli civilians), Dr. Naji Zaheer, special representative to Hamas leader Khaled Mashal in Pakistan, met with Maulana Fazlur Rehman, the chief of the largest Pakistani Islamist political party, Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F, currently possessing the fourth-highest number of seats in the Senate and the fifth-highest in the National Assembly) in the city of Peshawar to discuss the situation in Gaza. The meeting was also attended by former Senate chairman Raza Rabbani, Maulana Abdul Ghafoor Haidari, Senator Talha Mehmood, Mufti Abrar Ahmad, and Syed Salman Gilani. Zaheer reported that Hamas leader Khaled Mashal lauded the JUI-F for celebrating the October 7 massacre.
In the evening of October 14, Zaheer addressed the Mufti Mahmood Conference in Peshawar, a massive solidarity rally for Palestine where Mashal appeared via video link. According to media reports Mashal said that "the Palestinian resistance is determined to achieve its goals in the fight against the Zionist enemies." He then emphasized the importance of "the unity of the Islamic world in supporting Palestine and supporting the resistance front," and appreciated "the unanimity of the people of Pakistan and the political and diplomatic support of the government of this country to the Palestinian people
Chanting "Khyber Khyber ya Yahood" In Karachi
On November 2, 2023, Dr. Naji Zaheer spoke via video link joining the "Toofan-e-Aqsa conference," a 12-day protest event in Karachi, organized by Maulana Fazlur Rehman. During the event, then Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh – who was killed on July 31, 2024, by an explosive device planted in his guesthouse in Tehran – stated in a video message that Maulana Fazlur Rehman is presenting the position of the Palestinians. "I address the entire Muslim Ummah. This war is not just for Palestine; it is for the entire Ummah," Haniyeh stressed.
On November 5, 2023, Maulana Fazlur Rehman met with Ismail Haniyeh and Khaled Mashal in Qatar. Haniyeh praised Rehman for "raising his voice for Gaza," saying that the JUI-F leader was playing the role of "Palestine's ambassador in Pakistan." Mashal compared the situation in Gaza to the one in Kashmir, using anti-India rhetoric.
In mid-November, 2023, Zaheer joined an anti-Israel rally in Karachi organized by the Pakistan Markazi Muslim League (PMML, also known as Pakistan Central Muslim League, PCML), which is considered to be the new face of Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) political wing. It is worth noting that LeT is responsible for the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks. A real-time video from the rally shows Zaheer on stage, thanking PMML for their support and leading/responding to chants like the anti-Jewish slogan "Khyber Khyber ya Yahood" amid vows of Palestinian resilience.
Later that month, on November 30, 2023, Zaheer addressed the "Al-Aqsa Storm and Gaza Martyrs Conference" in Larkana, Sindh province, alongside Rehman, drawing thousands in support of Hamas's "Operation Al-Aqsa Flood," which was launched on the morning of October 7.
Hamas Participates In Events To Discuss Gaza "Resistance"
In early December, Dr. Naji Zaheer met a PMML delegation, thanking Pakistanis for their solidarity with Gaza. The PMML is considered the political front for Pakistani jihadi organization Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), which in recent years has been operating underground and whose leader Hafiz Muhammad Saeed is in prison. Zaheer told the delegation: "We are extremely thankful to Pakistan Markazi Muslim League because through it, the men, women, and youths of Pakistan are fully expressing solidarity with the inhabitants of Gaza against the criminal Zionist war."
On December 11, 2023, Zaheer participated in an event organized by Maulana Fazlur Rehman in Islamabad. This was a private high-level discussion on Gaza "resistance," attended by prominent religious scholars from JUI-F. The meeting focused on condemning Israeli actions in Gaza, calling for OIC/Muslim world intervention, and strategizing JUI-F's ongoing pro-Palestine campaigns. Zaheer praised JUI-F as a "unique voice" for the cause in Pakistan.
In mid-December, Dr Khaled Qaddoumi, the Special Representative of Hamas in Tehran, arrived in Pakistan to further promote his movement. On December 19, 2023, Qaddoumi spoke to senior journalists and analysts in Lahore.
On the same day, on December 19, 2023, former member of the Senate of Pakistan representing Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Mushtaq Ahmad Khan, posted on his Facebook page his meeting with Qaddoumi. The Pakistani politician gifted Qaddoumi a traditional Peshawari shawl and a pakol (a round-topped men's cap). Mushtaq Ahmad Khan is a member of the Islamist political party Jamaat-e-Islami.
On December 25, 2023, Qaddoumi met with Hafiz Naeem ur Rehman, current Central Ameer of Jamaat-e-Islami Pakistan, who at the time was serving as President of the Jamaat-e-Islami in Karachi. The meeting was also attended by Asif Luqman Qazi, Director of Jamaat-e-Islami's Central Department of Foreign Affairs.
Event At the Upper House of the Parliament And At The Karachi Press Club
Hamas' activities in Pakistan continued full force into 2024. On January 5, 2024, Pakistan's lawmakers in the Upper House of the Parliament received Dr. Khaled Qaddoumi, the Special Representative of Hamas in Tehran, who was visiting Pakistan on a special invitation. According to the Pakistani media outlet Tribune.com.pk, "in his welcome address, Senator Mushahid Hussain (Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz); one of the three major mainstream political parties in Pakistan) expressed the importance of the day for Parliament, emphasizing that the Senate takes pride in welcoming His Excellency Dr Qaddoumi."
Senator Mushahid Hussain stated: "We are proud of the Palestinian brothers, especially Hamas, which is the democratically elected organization of the people of Palestine, whose great mujahid is here to represent the aspirations of the people of Palestine." He then added: "We were the first Muslim country to give a $1,000,000 donation to the Hamas government."
On January 9, 2024, Qaddoumi was interviewed by Pakistani channel GNN TV, stating that Israelis "have come walking into Gaza, they will return in coffins."
On January 16, Zaheer visited the Karachi Press Club, urging more anti-Israel protests in Pakistan. "I particularly respect Pakistani journalists because in the current situation in Gaza, they have been reporting with such passion that they seem no different than their Palestinian counterparts working for our cause," Zaheer said.
Islamabad High Court Bar Association Honors Hamas Representative
On April 27, 2024, Zaheer was honored with high respect at the Islamabad High Court Bar Association (IHCBA). The event featured a plaque presentation and photos show Zaheer receiving the award from IHCBA officials while surrounded by lawyers in formal attire. He also received floral bouquets.
On April 21, 2024, Zaheer spoke at the Gaza Martyrs Conference in Karachi, alongside PMML leaders. Zaheer praised Palestinian "resistance," condemned Israeli actions in Gaza, and highlighted solidarity ties between Hamas and Pakistani groups. The event drew crowds for speeches on Hamas's Operation Al-Aqsa Flood and martyr commemorations.
Meeting With Islamist Party TLP
On July 21, 2024, Zaheer has a meeting with a delegation of the Islamist party Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP). Zaheer expressed gratitude for TLP's efforts in support of Palestine and commended Pakistan's stance against Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu, labeling him a terrorist.
Meeting In Qatar with Pakistan-Based Islamist Militants
The entanglement deepened with a controversial meeting in Doha, Qatar, in August 2024. There, Khaled Mashal met Saifullah Khalid Kasuri, PMML's leader and a U.S.-designated global terrorist, along with Zaheer. The group conveyed condolences over the killing of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh, highlighting the growing nexus between Pakistan-based militants and Hamas. The meeting drew international attention, particularly from the Indian media, due to the fact that the PMML is considered to be the new political face of Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), which is responsible for the 2008 Mumbai terrorist attacks, among others.
Al-Aqsa Million March
On October 6, 2024, Qaddoumi spoke at the Al-Aqsa Million March organized by Jamaat-e-Islami in Karachi. According to Pakistani media outlets, Qaddoumi "commended the Mujahideen's efforts, asserting they are causing significant losses to the Israeli army and undermining Israel's pride."
"Death To Israel" Conference
In December 8, 2024, Zaheer was in Peshawar for the inflammatory "Death to Israel" conference organized by JUI-F. Addressing the gathering, he declared the Gaza war a "war of Islam" that would continue "until Israel is eliminated and the Jews flee."
"Kashmir Solidarity And Hamas Operation Al-Aqsa Flood Conference"
On February 5, 2025, to mark Kashmir Solidarity Day, several events were held in Pakistan-controlled Kashmir by militant groups and the Pakistani military and government. These events were also attended and addressed by jihadi commanders and Hamas leaders.
One of the biggest events was held in the town of Rawalakot in Pakistani Kashmir under the name "Kashmir Solidarity and Hamas Operation 'Al-Aqsa Flood' Conference."
Hamas representative in Tehran Dr. Khaled Qaddoumi, Dr. Naji Zaheer, along with Hamas leaders Mufti Azam and Bilal Al Sallat, participated in the event. The event was also attended by Talha Saif, brother of Jaish-e-Muhammad (JeM) emir Maulana Masood Azhar, JeM commander Asghar Khan Kashmiri, senior Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) commander Masood Ilyas, and other top LeT commanders.
Leaders of JeM and Jammu Kashmir United Movement (JKUM) thanked Hamas and vowed to work in close co-ordination with it for the cause of Jihad in Palestine and Kashmir. "The entire event was an effort to build a narrative to equate the Gaza Strip with Jammu and Kashmir," Indian media outlet News 18 reported. "The conference had been organized to spin a common tale of Pakistan and Palestine as well-knit united fronts against Israel and India," the report said.
In a video of the Rawalakot event available on the Internet, several militant leaders can be seen delivering speeches. One militant leader, speaking Urdu, warned India: "I want to tell [Indian Home Minister] Amit Shah that the mujahideen of Kashmir and Palestine have become united..."
On February 5, 2025, another conference on Kashmir took place in Mirpur in Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK), at which Hamas Representative Sheikh Mahmoud Yousef Al-Shabki spoke, drawing parallels between Kashmir and Gaza.
On February 12, 2025, it was reported that Qaddoumi met with journalists in Islamabad. It is worth noting that, on February 4, Qaddoumi met with JUI-F chief, Maulana Fazlur Rehman.
National Palestine Conference in Islamabad
In April 2025, Zaheer was a "star speaker" at the National Palestine Conference in Islamabad, organized by the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI-F). Addressing the gathering, Zaheer claimed that "Palestinians have great hopes from Pakistan" and that "Israel is afraid of Pakistan."
He then added: "The land of Palestine is indeed the land of Bait-ul-Muqaddas [Holy Land]. Palestine is indeed the land of prophets. The oppressed of Gaza are looking up to the Muslim Ummah. The oppressed Gaza's people are looking up to the government of Pakistan, the Ulema [religious scholars] of Pakistan, and the people of Pakistan. In this situation, the Pakistani people's full support is needed by the Palestinian public."
"Awareness Program for Palestine" At the Riphah International University
On August 2, 2025, Zaheer was a speaker at the "Awareness Program for Palestine," which took place at the Riphah International University, in Faisalabad. The guests praised the university's administration for amplifying the Palestinian cause and toured the campus afterward.
Conclusion
Hamas's reach into Pakistan's political sphere is evident. Along the years, the jihadi movement met with several Pakistani ambassadors. For instance, in 2016, Hamas representative, Ali Baraka, met the then Pakistani Ambassador to Lebanon, Aftab Kohokhar, at the headquarters of the Pakistani Embassy in Beirut. In 2019, another Hamas representative, Dr. Ahmed Abdel Hadi, met with the then Pakistani Ambassador Najib Durrani again at the Pakistani embassy in Beirut. It is rumored that, recently, Pakistan Ambassador to Qatar Lt Gen (Retd) Muhammad Aamer met with senior Hamas spokesperson Basem Naim in Doha.
The risk of Hamas finding an ideological and logistical safe haven in Pakistan and more specifically in Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK) is very real and plausible. As the international community focuses on demilitarizing Hamas in Gaza, it cannot ignore that Pakistan is becoming the next fertile ground for Hamas to rejuvenate. This poses a threat to the West and the Western interests in the region.
Written by: Anna Mahjar (The author is a MEMRI Senior Research Fellow)
>> Source: Memri .
The following MEMRI analysis was originally published on September 20, 2025:
Pakistan is allowing Hamas representatives on their soil to operate freely, participate in public events, and forge alliances with local militant outfits. This behavior undermines Western efforts to isolate Hamas and puts under question whether the US should keep on considering Pakistan as a "major non-NATO ally."
Dr. Naji Zaheer is the current special representative to Hamas leader Khaled Mashal in Pakistan. Soon after the October 7 massacre, Zaheer's political activities in Pakistan to gather legitimacy and support for Hamas's terrorist activities intensified. Zaheer has been invited to participate in major events as a guest of honor and has become a fixture at anti-Israel rallies and conferences in Pakistan. Often, Zaheer shared stages with figures linked to U.S.-designated terrorist organizations like Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and Jaish-e-Muhammad (JeM).
In addition, as part of Hamas efforts to gather international support, the Special Representative of Hamas in Tehran, Dr. Khaled Qaddoumi, has also been since October 2023 participating actively in rallies and events at Pakistani institutions. The presence of Zaheer and Qaddoumi at events and rallies in Pakistan signals Islamabad's tacit support for Hamas's agenda. This should raise alarms in Washington as it realizes that Pakistan has no serious commitment to counterterrorism.
Major Islamist Political Party Organizes Pro-Hamas Events in Pakistan
On October 14, 2023 (just a week after the Hamas massacre against Israeli civilians), Dr. Naji Zaheer, special representative to Hamas leader Khaled Mashal in Pakistan, met with Maulana Fazlur Rehman, the chief of the largest Pakistani Islamist political party, Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F, currently possessing the fourth-highest number of seats in the Senate and the fifth-highest in the National Assembly) in the city of Peshawar to discuss the situation in Gaza. The meeting was also attended by former Senate chairman Raza Rabbani, Maulana Abdul Ghafoor Haidari, Senator Talha Mehmood, Mufti Abrar Ahmad, and Syed Salman Gilani. Zaheer reported that Hamas leader Khaled Mashal lauded the JUI-F for celebrating the October 7 massacre.
In the evening of October 14, Zaheer addressed the Mufti Mahmood Conference in Peshawar, a massive solidarity rally for Palestine where Mashal appeared via video link. According to media reports Mashal said that "the Palestinian resistance is determined to achieve its goals in the fight against the Zionist enemies." He then emphasized the importance of "the unity of the Islamic world in supporting Palestine and supporting the resistance front," and appreciated "the unanimity of the people of Pakistan and the political and diplomatic support of the government of this country to the Palestinian people
Chanting "Khyber Khyber ya Yahood" In Karachi
On November 2, 2023, Dr. Naji Zaheer spoke via video link joining the "Toofan-e-Aqsa conference," a 12-day protest event in Karachi, organized by Maulana Fazlur Rehman. During the event, then Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh – who was killed on July 31, 2024, by an explosive device planted in his guesthouse in Tehran – stated in a video message that Maulana Fazlur Rehman is presenting the position of the Palestinians. "I address the entire Muslim Ummah. This war is not just for Palestine; it is for the entire Ummah," Haniyeh stressed.
On November 5, 2023, Maulana Fazlur Rehman met with Ismail Haniyeh and Khaled Mashal in Qatar. Haniyeh praised Rehman for "raising his voice for Gaza," saying that the JUI-F leader was playing the role of "Palestine's ambassador in Pakistan." Mashal compared the situation in Gaza to the one in Kashmir, using anti-India rhetoric.
In mid-November, 2023, Zaheer joined an anti-Israel rally in Karachi organized by the Pakistan Markazi Muslim League (PMML, also known as Pakistan Central Muslim League, PCML), which is considered to be the new face of Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) political wing. It is worth noting that LeT is responsible for the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks. A real-time video from the rally shows Zaheer on stage, thanking PMML for their support and leading/responding to chants like the anti-Jewish slogan "Khyber Khyber ya Yahood" amid vows of Palestinian resilience.
Later that month, on November 30, 2023, Zaheer addressed the "Al-Aqsa Storm and Gaza Martyrs Conference" in Larkana, Sindh province, alongside Rehman, drawing thousands in support of Hamas's "Operation Al-Aqsa Flood," which was launched on the morning of October 7.
Hamas Participates In Events To Discuss Gaza "Resistance"
In early December, Dr. Naji Zaheer met a PMML delegation, thanking Pakistanis for their solidarity with Gaza. The PMML is considered the political front for Pakistani jihadi organization Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), which in recent years has been operating underground and whose leader Hafiz Muhammad Saeed is in prison. Zaheer told the delegation: "We are extremely thankful to Pakistan Markazi Muslim League because through it, the men, women, and youths of Pakistan are fully expressing solidarity with the inhabitants of Gaza against the criminal Zionist war."
On December 11, 2023, Zaheer participated in an event organized by Maulana Fazlur Rehman in Islamabad. This was a private high-level discussion on Gaza "resistance," attended by prominent religious scholars from JUI-F. The meeting focused on condemning Israeli actions in Gaza, calling for OIC/Muslim world intervention, and strategizing JUI-F's ongoing pro-Palestine campaigns. Zaheer praised JUI-F as a "unique voice" for the cause in Pakistan.
In mid-December, Dr Khaled Qaddoumi, the Special Representative of Hamas in Tehran, arrived in Pakistan to further promote his movement. On December 19, 2023, Qaddoumi spoke to senior journalists and analysts in Lahore.
On the same day, on December 19, 2023, former member of the Senate of Pakistan representing Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Mushtaq Ahmad Khan, posted on his Facebook page his meeting with Qaddoumi. The Pakistani politician gifted Qaddoumi a traditional Peshawari shawl and a pakol (a round-topped men's cap). Mushtaq Ahmad Khan is a member of the Islamist political party Jamaat-e-Islami.
On December 25, 2023, Qaddoumi met with Hafiz Naeem ur Rehman, current Central Ameer of Jamaat-e-Islami Pakistan, who at the time was serving as President of the Jamaat-e-Islami in Karachi. The meeting was also attended by Asif Luqman Qazi, Director of Jamaat-e-Islami's Central Department of Foreign Affairs.
Event At the Upper House of the Parliament And At The Karachi Press Club
Hamas' activities in Pakistan continued full force into 2024. On January 5, 2024, Pakistan's lawmakers in the Upper House of the Parliament received Dr. Khaled Qaddoumi, the Special Representative of Hamas in Tehran, who was visiting Pakistan on a special invitation. According to the Pakistani media outlet Tribune.com.pk, "in his welcome address, Senator Mushahid Hussain (Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz); one of the three major mainstream political parties in Pakistan) expressed the importance of the day for Parliament, emphasizing that the Senate takes pride in welcoming His Excellency Dr Qaddoumi."
Senator Mushahid Hussain stated: "We are proud of the Palestinian brothers, especially Hamas, which is the democratically elected organization of the people of Palestine, whose great mujahid is here to represent the aspirations of the people of Palestine." He then added: "We were the first Muslim country to give a $1,000,000 donation to the Hamas government."
On January 9, 2024, Qaddoumi was interviewed by Pakistani channel GNN TV, stating that Israelis "have come walking into Gaza, they will return in coffins."
On January 16, Zaheer visited the Karachi Press Club, urging more anti-Israel protests in Pakistan. "I particularly respect Pakistani journalists because in the current situation in Gaza, they have been reporting with such passion that they seem no different than their Palestinian counterparts working for our cause," Zaheer said.
Islamabad High Court Bar Association Honors Hamas Representative
On April 27, 2024, Zaheer was honored with high respect at the Islamabad High Court Bar Association (IHCBA). The event featured a plaque presentation and photos show Zaheer receiving the award from IHCBA officials while surrounded by lawyers in formal attire. He also received floral bouquets.
On April 21, 2024, Zaheer spoke at the Gaza Martyrs Conference in Karachi, alongside PMML leaders. Zaheer praised Palestinian "resistance," condemned Israeli actions in Gaza, and highlighted solidarity ties between Hamas and Pakistani groups. The event drew crowds for speeches on Hamas's Operation Al-Aqsa Flood and martyr commemorations.
Meeting With Islamist Party TLP
On July 21, 2024, Zaheer has a meeting with a delegation of the Islamist party Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP). Zaheer expressed gratitude for TLP's efforts in support of Palestine and commended Pakistan's stance against Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu, labeling him a terrorist.
Meeting In Qatar with Pakistan-Based Islamist Militants
The entanglement deepened with a controversial meeting in Doha, Qatar, in August 2024. There, Khaled Mashal met Saifullah Khalid Kasuri, PMML's leader and a U.S.-designated global terrorist, along with Zaheer. The group conveyed condolences over the killing of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh, highlighting the growing nexus between Pakistan-based militants and Hamas. The meeting drew international attention, particularly from the Indian media, due to the fact that the PMML is considered to be the new political face of Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), which is responsible for the 2008 Mumbai terrorist attacks, among others.
Al-Aqsa Million March
On October 6, 2024, Qaddoumi spoke at the Al-Aqsa Million March organized by Jamaat-e-Islami in Karachi. According to Pakistani media outlets, Qaddoumi "commended the Mujahideen's efforts, asserting they are causing significant losses to the Israeli army and undermining Israel's pride."
"Death To Israel" Conference
In December 8, 2024, Zaheer was in Peshawar for the inflammatory "Death to Israel" conference organized by JUI-F. Addressing the gathering, he declared the Gaza war a "war of Islam" that would continue "until Israel is eliminated and the Jews flee."
"Kashmir Solidarity And Hamas Operation Al-Aqsa Flood Conference"
On February 5, 2025, to mark Kashmir Solidarity Day, several events were held in Pakistan-controlled Kashmir by militant groups and the Pakistani military and government. These events were also attended and addressed by jihadi commanders and Hamas leaders.
One of the biggest events was held in the town of Rawalakot in Pakistani Kashmir under the name "Kashmir Solidarity and Hamas Operation 'Al-Aqsa Flood' Conference."
Hamas representative in Tehran Dr. Khaled Qaddoumi, Dr. Naji Zaheer, along with Hamas leaders Mufti Azam and Bilal Al Sallat, participated in the event. The event was also attended by Talha Saif, brother of Jaish-e-Muhammad (JeM) emir Maulana Masood Azhar, JeM commander Asghar Khan Kashmiri, senior Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) commander Masood Ilyas, and other top LeT commanders.
Leaders of JeM and Jammu Kashmir United Movement (JKUM) thanked Hamas and vowed to work in close co-ordination with it for the cause of Jihad in Palestine and Kashmir. "The entire event was an effort to build a narrative to equate the Gaza Strip with Jammu and Kashmir," Indian media outlet News 18 reported. "The conference had been organized to spin a common tale of Pakistan and Palestine as well-knit united fronts against Israel and India," the report said.
In a video of the Rawalakot event available on the Internet, several militant leaders can be seen delivering speeches. One militant leader, speaking Urdu, warned India: "I want to tell [Indian Home Minister] Amit Shah that the mujahideen of Kashmir and Palestine have become united..."
On February 5, 2025, another conference on Kashmir took place in Mirpur in Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK), at which Hamas Representative Sheikh Mahmoud Yousef Al-Shabki spoke, drawing parallels between Kashmir and Gaza.
On February 12, 2025, it was reported that Qaddoumi met with journalists in Islamabad. It is worth noting that, on February 4, Qaddoumi met with JUI-F chief, Maulana Fazlur Rehman.
National Palestine Conference in Islamabad
In April 2025, Zaheer was a "star speaker" at the National Palestine Conference in Islamabad, organized by the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI-F). Addressing the gathering, Zaheer claimed that "Palestinians have great hopes from Pakistan" and that "Israel is afraid of Pakistan."
He then added: "The land of Palestine is indeed the land of Bait-ul-Muqaddas [Holy Land]. Palestine is indeed the land of prophets. The oppressed of Gaza are looking up to the Muslim Ummah. The oppressed Gaza's people are looking up to the government of Pakistan, the Ulema [religious scholars] of Pakistan, and the people of Pakistan. In this situation, the Pakistani people's full support is needed by the Palestinian public."
"Awareness Program for Palestine" At the Riphah International University
On August 2, 2025, Zaheer was a speaker at the "Awareness Program for Palestine," which took place at the Riphah International University, in Faisalabad. The guests praised the university's administration for amplifying the Palestinian cause and toured the campus afterward.
Conclusion
Hamas's reach into Pakistan's political sphere is evident. Along the years, the jihadi movement met with several Pakistani ambassadors. For instance, in 2016, Hamas representative, Ali Baraka, met the then Pakistani Ambassador to Lebanon, Aftab Kohokhar, at the headquarters of the Pakistani Embassy in Beirut. In 2019, another Hamas representative, Dr. Ahmed Abdel Hadi, met with the then Pakistani Ambassador Najib Durrani again at the Pakistani embassy in Beirut. It is rumored that, recently, Pakistan Ambassador to Qatar Lt Gen (Retd) Muhammad Aamer met with senior Hamas spokesperson Basem Naim in Doha.
The risk of Hamas finding an ideological and logistical safe haven in Pakistan and more specifically in Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK) is very real and plausible. As the international community focuses on demilitarizing Hamas in Gaza, it cannot ignore that Pakistan is becoming the next fertile ground for Hamas to rejuvenate. This poses a threat to the West and the Western interests in the region.
Written by: Anna Mahjar (The author is a MEMRI Senior Research Fellow)
>> Source: Memri .
