Beyond the Middle East, Hamas’s ideological influence has expanded into South Asia, particularly Pakistan a country known for harbouring extremist elements and ideologies. Pakistan-based terror organizations such as Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and Jaish-e-Muhammad (JeM) have increasingly aligned themselves with Hamas, forming a dangerous synergy of ideology and operational capabilities that poses a serious security challenge for world especially India.

The Islamic Resistance Movement, better known as Hamas, was founded in 1987 shortly after the First Intifada by Palestinian scholar Ahmed Yasin. It is an Islamist Palestinian nationalist political organization with a military wing, and an offshoot of the Muslim Brotherhood. Hamas blends Palestinian nationalism with political Islam, presenting itself as both a liberation movement and an Islamic resistance force. Over the years, the group has maintained close ties with several Middle Eastern partners, including Hezbollah in Lebanon, the Houthis in Yemen, various groups in Iraq, and its primary ally, Iran, which provides significant support and training.

Beyond the Middle East, Hamas’s ideological influence has expanded into South Asia, particularly Pakistan a country known for harbouring extremist elements and ideologies. Pakistan-based terror organizations such as Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and Jaish-e-Muhammad (JeM) have increasingly aligned themselves with Hamas, forming a dangerous synergy of ideology and operational capabilities that poses a serious security challenge for world especially India. Even Pakistan’s Jamaat-e-Islami has reportedly supported the idea of establishing a Hamas office in the country.

Since its inception, Pakistan has treated Kashmir as the “unfinished agenda of partition,” promoting narratives, sponsoring conflicts, and supporting terrorism against India to keep this agenda alive internationally. This ideological convergence frames Kashmir and Palestine as “twin struggles” for Muslims, providing Hamas with a safe foothold in Pakistan. Islamabad has offered the group political, logistical, and operational support to strengthen its influence, while simultaneously gaining backing from Hamas and other Palestine sympathizers for its Kashmir narrative. This alliance has been reinforced through joint rallies, conferences, and public statements, particularly in Pakistan-occupied Jammu & Kashmir (PoJK). Leaders of LeT, JeM, and Hizbul Mujahideen frequently appear alongside Hamas representatives at such events, drawing direct parallels between Gaza and Kashmir. Their speeches create a unified narrative of Muslim victimhood and glorify armed jihad as the sole path to liberation. Historically, Pakistan has maintained a pro-Palestinian stance, acting as a self-styled flag bearer for Muslim causes. Consequently, Pakistan has often been a safe haven for Hamas. Several prominent Hamas leaders, including Khaled Mash’al, have met with Pakistan-based terror figures both inside Pakistan and abroad, such as in Doha. Dr. Naji Zaheer, Hamas’s representative to Pakistan, frequently participates in rallies, campaigns, programs, and conventions organized by terror outfits, where themes of Islamic brotherhood, victimhood, and the struggles of Palestine and Kashmir dominate the narrative. He has been invited to, and honoured by, local associations and press clubs in Pakistan, further legitimizing Hamas’s presence.

Hamas representatives have consistently taken part in conferences and rallies in Pakistan and PoJK, often alongside Pakistan-based terrorist groups, cementing ideological links between Palestine and Kashmir. For instance, in December 2024, Dr. Naji Zaheer addressed the “Death to Israel” conference in Peshawar, framing Gaza’s struggle as part of a broader Islamic conflict. On February 5, 2025, during Kashmir Solidarity Day, events in Rawalakot and Mirpur brought together Hamas leaders, JeM and LeT commanders, and Islamist political figures, with speeches explicitly equating Gaza and Kashmir as twin fronts of jihad. Later, in April 2025, a national Palestine conference in Islamabad featured Hamas alongside top Pakistani clerics, reinforcing the narrative that Pakistan must support both Palestinian and Kashmiri causes.

Even diplomatic meetings, such as the August 2025 gathering in Doha between Pakistan’s ambassador and Hamas spokesperson Basem Naim, emphasized that Palestine and Kashmir are part of the same struggle. Across these events, the recurring theme is clear: Gaza and Kashmir are presented as connected battlefields, merging both conflicts into a single global jihadist narrative. Numerous rallies over the years, organized by terror groups in Pakistan, have consistently highlighted Kashmir in conjunction with Hamas, all under the watchful eyes of Pakistan’s government, army, and intelligence services, which benefit from building global support for their Kashmir narrative using the emotive Palestinian cause.

This Hamas-Pakistan nexus presents a direct political and military threat to India. By supporting Hamas and invoking the Palestinian cause, Pakistan seeks international sympathy and leverage for its Kashmir narrative, which translates into foreign funding and material support potentially used against India. Militarily, the collaboration combines international jihadist expertise, operational training, and emotive propaganda, enhancing terrorist capabilities and sustaining radicalization. The fusion of Hamas tactics with Pakistan-based terror infrastructure raises the likelihood of coordinated attacks, including urban terrorism, bombings, and cross-border infiltrations. Access to training, funding, and safe havens significantly improves operational effectiveness, making detection and neutralization increasingly difficult.

Moreover, the ideological reinforcement from international jihadist figures ensures a continuous flow of recruits motivated by both propaganda and tactical knowledge. Beyond direct attacks, the nexus threatens India’s strategic stability by attempting to radicalize vulnerable populations and spread extremist ideologies within the country. It can also strain India’s diplomatic efforts, as Pakistan uses its ties with Hamas to gain global legitimacy while painting India as oppressive. The network’s growing sophistication, combined with cross-border logistics and funding, means even remote regions of India could become targets for terrorism. Furthermore, the ideological and operational integration of Hamas with Pakistan terror groups increases the risk of more complex, multi-pronged attacks that challenge India’s intelligence and security apparatus. For India, this is not a distant concern but an immediate and evolving challenge.

Vigilance, intelligence coordination, and proactive counterterrorism measures are critical to prevent these groups from consolidating power and carrying out attacks on Indian soil. The Hamas-Pakistan nexus represents a growing threat that demands a decisive and strategic response from India’s security and intelligence apparatus.

Emai:----------------syedjahanzeeb2@gmail.com