A recently surfaced video showing senior Hamas and Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) commanders together at an event in Pakistan’s Gujranwala has raised fresh concerns about expanding cooperation between the Palestinian militant organisation and Pakistan-linked terror networks. The gathering, hosted by the Pakistan Markazi Muslim League (PMML) — widely seen as a political front for LeT — featured Hamas commander Naji Zaheer and LeT’s Rashid Ali Sandhu sharing a stage, underscoring a visible escalation in ties between the groups.
Though undated, the footage reveals Zaheer attending the PMML event as a chief guest, with Sandhu present under the guise of a senior PMML leader. Security analysts say the meeting reflects not only greater visibility of Hamas figures within Pakistan, but also a concerted push by militant elements to strengthen cross-organisational networks.
Zaheer, a key Hamas operative, has been a frequent visitor to Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). In February 2025, he travelled to PoK days before a terror strike in Pahalgam, India, and joined a rally alongside commanders from both Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammed. The event drew sharp criticism from New Delhi as evidence of trans-border extremist linkages.
His engagements in Pakistan extend back further. In January 2024, Zaheer spoke at the Karachi Press Club. In April 2024, he was felicitated by the Islamabad High Court Bar Association. Notably, soon after the October 7, 2023 terror attacks in Israel, Zaheer visited Pakistan to meet Maulana Fazl-ur-Rehman, leader of the Islamist party Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam, and addressed the Mufti Mahmood Conference in Peshawar, alongside senior Hamas associates participating via video link.
Subsequent appearances by Zaheer in Quetta and Karachi at large-scale conferences like “Al-Aqsa Storm” and “Toofan-e-Aqsa” — some with senior Hamas figures joining virtually — further illustrate his sustained presence and outreach within Pakistani Islamist circles.
Experts contend that these repeated interactions are not isolated. Rather, they point to a widening sphere of cooperation between militant entities that could leverage Pakistan’s deep state structures for logistical help and political cover. Analysts note that such networking has potential implications for regional security, particularly given Pakistan’s historical role as a sanctuary and facilitator for various extremist groups.
The developments also come at a time when the US Administration is seeking Pakistani support for future stabilization efforts in Gaza. Under Trump’s 20-point Gaza plan, an international force is proposed to oversee reconstruction and a transition phase post-conflict — and Washington has reportedly signalled expectations that the Pakistan Army might contribute to that mission.
Security and intelligence sources caution that mounting public interactions between Hamas leaders and Pakistan-linked militant fronts could complicate diplomatic efforts and heighten scrutiny of Islamabad’s counterterror commitments. They warn that such alliances can enable operational exchanges, fundraising, propaganda outreach, and strategic coordination across South Asia and the Middle East. Further monitoring and diplomatic engagement will likely shape responses from countries attentive to the growing nexus of extremist ties.
