The potential for Hamas to establish a presence in Pakistan, particularly in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), is a significant and valid concern. While global attention is on disarming Hamas in Gaza, there is growing apprehension that Pakistan could become a conducive environment for Hamas to regroup, posing a threat to Western interests in the region. A report highlighted that Pakistan’s tolerance of Hamas operatives on its soil, their involvement in public activities, and partnerships with local militant factions challenge Western efforts to isolate Hamas diplomatically.
The establishment of the US-led intergovernmental organization Board of Peace on January 15, 2026, aimed at promoting stability in conflict-affected regions like Gaza. Notably, on January 18, US President Donald Trump, in his capacity as the organization’s chair, extended an invitation to Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to join. However, concerns arise as Pakistan allows Hamas representatives to operate freely within its borders, engage in public events, and form alliances with local militant groups, undermining efforts to diplomatically isolate Hamas.
Following a violent Hamas attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, the report highlighted escalated political activities by Naji Zaheer, the current special representative to Hamas leader Khaled Mashal in Pakistan, aimed at garnering support for Hamas’s extremist actions. Zaheer’s active participation in anti-Israel events and conferences in Pakistan, often alongside individuals associated with US-designated terrorist organizations like Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and Jaish-e-Muhammad (JeM), has raised concerns about Pakistan’s stance on counterterrorism.
Moreover, the report pointed out that since October 2023, Khaled Qaddoumi, the Special Representative of Hamas in Tehran, has been attending rallies and events at Pakistani institutions to rally international backing. The presence of Zaheer and Qaddoumi at various events in Pakistan suggests Islamabad’s implicit endorsement of Hamas’s agenda, signaling a lack of serious commitment to counterterrorism efforts. The report emphasized that during Kashmir Solidarity Day on February 5, 2025, militant groups, alongside the Pakistani military and government, organized events in PoK, attended by jihadi commanders and Hamas leaders, further illustrating Hamas’s growing influence in Pakistan’s political landscape.
