Islamabad– Pakistan’s alleged covert support for Hamas poses a growing threat to international security, according to a report published Friday in Bangladeshi outlet Blitz.
The report claims Pakistan’s intelligence agency, the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), is secretly training Hamas operatives while the country continues to portray itself as a counterterrorism partner to the West. This, the report said, echoes Pakistan’s past duplicity when it harbored al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden while receiving billions of dollars in U.S. aid.
“Pakistan has long perfected the art of duplicity — presenting itself as a partner in the fight against terrorism while covertly nurturing jihadist groups to advance its geopolitical ambitions. This dangerous double game, tolerated for decades by Washington, is now entering a new and even deadlier phase,” the report stated.
According to the findings, Hamas representatives are operating freely on Pakistani soil, attending public gatherings, and forging ties with local jihadist groups. They are reportedly being trained by the ISI and a specialized Pakistan Army unit in at least two clandestine camps, including one in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).
The report warned that such activities undermine Western efforts to isolate Hamas after its October 7, 2023, terror attacks and raise questions over Pakistan’s designation as a “major non-NATO ally” of the United States.
It also alleged that Hamas’s influence is shaping Pakistan’s military strategy, claiming that Pakistan has attempted Hamas-style rocket strikes against India, which were successfully intercepted by Indian forces.
The report further highlighted that senior Hamas officials visited PoK two months before the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack, where they allegedly met with Jaish-e-Mohammad operatives. Israel’s Ambassador to India, Reuven Azar, linked the timing of the attack to these visits, underscoring the security risks of the Hamas–ISI nexus.
The report also pointed to long-standing ties between Hamas and Pakistan, noting that Hamas leaders have been welcomed by Pakistani envoys in Lebanon, Qatar, and other countries, often facilitated by retired generals serving as diplomats.
“Islamabad’s duplicity not only endangers Israel and India but also erodes U.S. counterterrorism efforts and threatens global stability,” the report concluded. (Source: IANS)
