Hamas terrorists attend Lashkar-e-Taiba event in PoK

New Delhi – 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). Pakistan observes 5^th February 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 in Rawalakote. Among the key attendees were Talha Saif, brother of JeM ‘chief’ Masood Azhar, JeM ‘commanders’ Asghar Khan Kashmiri and Masood Ilyas, and top LeT leaders. Dr Khalid Al-Qadoumi, Hamas’ representative in Iran, also took part in the meeting, marking the first-ever visit of a Hamas leader to PoK.

1. The Indian Government has not officially designated Hamas as a terrorist organisation. It has consistently supported Palestine, although Israel has repeatedly urged India to recognise Hamas as a terrorist group. In 2023, Israel officially declared Lashkar-e-Taiba a terrorist group due to its involvement in the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks.

2. In August last year, A meeting between LeT leader Saifullah Khalid, designated a global terrorist by the US, and Hamas leader Khaled Meshaal took place in the Qatar capital of Doha. India heightened its vigilance. The US designated Saifullah Khalid as a terrorist in 2018. Khalid is known to be a close aide of LeT founder Hafiz Saeed, who was the mastermind of the 2008 Mumbai attacks.

3. According to Intelligence agencies, Pakistan will try to raise the Jammu and Kashmir issue again at the international level. By drawing parallels between Palestine and Kashmir, Pakistan aims to portray both as examples of alleged Muslim

Editors Perspectives

• Should this be seen as a ‘gift’ to India, which supports Palestine ?
• It is time for India to reconsider its stance on Palestine and officially designate Hamas as a terrorist organisation.

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