New Delhi: As Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif addressed the Pakistan-occupied Kashmir’s Legislative Assembly, urging India to move beyond the “August 5, 2019” mindset, a separate gathering was allegedly held in Rawalakot. It featured senior leaders and representatives from terrorist groups such as Jaish-e-Mohammed and Lashkar-e-Taiba, and even Hamas.
Khaled Qaddoumi, Hamas’s envoy in Tehran, was among those who attended the conference. It was attended by Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir’s Prime Minister Anwarul Haq and other regional officials.
The gathering featured Talha Saif, brother of the United Nations-designated terrorist Masood Azhar; Jaish-e-Mohammed commanders Asghar Khan Kashmiri and Masood Ilyas, and high-ranking figures from Lashkar-e-Taiba.
Visuals across social media showed a huge crowd gathered to receive Hamas officials and the Hamas envoy addressing people.
‘Image-building exercise’
Political scientist Ayesha Siddiqa dismissed the event, describing it as an “image-building exercise” by the Pakistan Army.
“Pakistan Army has become unpopular due to the state of domestic politics. Its conflict with PTI and resistance in Pakistan Kashmir against poor development and political disagreement has made the army unpopular. It now wants to reclaim its popularity,” Siddiqa said.
She noted that Palestinians, especially in Pakistan, have long felt that the Palestinian cause has not been aligned with Kashmir’s struggle.
“Kashmiris, especially in Pakistan, have long believed since the days of Musharraf that Palestinians have never supported them in their fight for Kashmir. So, with the Pakistani establishment allowing them to participate in an event, it is a mere symbolic gesture, a show of power.”
The inclusion of Hamas at the conference has raised eyebrows. International affairs expert Qamar Cheema told ThePrint: “They [Hamas] came because the civil society in Pakistan and the government of Pakistan organised it, not JeM and LeT. They came for solidarity with the Kashmir cause, as Hamas believes that the case of Gaza and Kashmir is one.”
Cheema emphasised that Hamas leaders have previously visited Pakistan at the invitation of Islamist parties, and even met Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman.
The decision to bring Hamas to the conference is also seen as part of Pakistan’s broader strategy to strengthen ties with Iran, with whom they are working to bolster diplomatic relations. However, tensions between the two countries, particularly concerning Balochistan and Iranian interference in Pakistani affairs, have been mounting.
Iran’s new President, Masoud Pezeshkian, has promised to continue efforts to improve relations with Pakistan, following the approach of his late predecessor, Ebrahim Raisi.
In recent years, the relationship between Iran and Pakistan has been marred by violent incidents – such as the missile and drone strikes launched by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) on Pakistani soil in January 2024. Pakistan retaliated, leading to the suspension of diplomatic ties. Additionally, Iran’s support for the Zainebiyoun militia, a Shia extremist group active in Pakistan, has further soured relations. These tensions have cast doubt on the potential for a constructive relationship between Iran and Pakistan under the leadership of Pezeshkian.
Is FATF sleeping? What about the UN Human Rights Commission? Such cowards and hypocrites!
And “Indian” MPs like Asaduddin Owaisi bat on behalf of Hamas even on the floor of the Parliament. Such a shame!