In a chilling revelation, Indian intelligence agencies have tied the recent Pahalgam terror attack to a rising collaboration between Hamas, the Palestinian terrorist group infamous for massacring thousands of Jews, and Pakistan-sponsored jihadi organizations like Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM). As reported by The New Indian, senior intelligence officials confirm that the perpetrators behind the attack were present at a rally on 5th February in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).

This rally, held at Shaheed Sabir Stadium, was titled the “Kashmir Solidarity and Hamas Operation Al Aqsa Flood Conference.” The event took on a particularly dangerous tone when a JeM leader proclaimed from the dais, “The fighters of Palestine and Kashmir now march as one. Blood will be spilled in Delhi, and Kashmir shall be torn from India.” This conference aligned with Pakistan’s annual “Kashmir Solidarity Day”, a day often used by Islamabad to push its Kashmir agenda. Intelligence reports suggest that around 100 foreign terrorists were in attendance, marking a significant convergence of anti-India jihadist actors.

Some of the most notorious names in terrorism appeared at this conference. Among them were Talha Saif, brother of JeM chief Mohammad Masood Azhar Alvi, senior JeM commanders like Asghar Khan Kashmiri, and Masood Ilyas, along with high-profile LeT operatives. In a surprising development, prominent Hamas figures such as Dr. Khalid Al-Qadoumi, Dr. Naji Zaheer, Mufti Azam, and Bilal Alsallat also participated. This marked the first official representation of Hamas in PoK, publicly declared by Iran-based Hamas ambassador Dr. Qadoumi.

Their presence was more than symbolic. Eyewitnesses and intelligence reports noted that the flags of Palestine, Pakistan, and Hamas were visibly displayed on shawls worn by the Hamas delegates, signaling open ideological and operational unity. A senior intelligence source bluntly stated, “Pakistan-backed terrorist outfits are now consciously emulating Hamas blueprint. These groups are manipulating religious ideologies to provoke violence and foster deep-seated communal discord within Jammu and Kashmir.”

This dangerous narrative construction is being led by Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) in coordination with the Pakistani military. Their mission is twofold. First, they want to reframe the Kashmir conflict in global discourse by portraying it as parallel to the Palestine-Israel dispute. Second, their aim is to radicalize the Kashmiri youth, exploiting religious emotion to sow unrest. According to top intelligence officers, “The intention is two fold: to draw international attention and to radicalize impressionable youth by weaponizing religious sentiment.”

Ahead of the rally, Pakistan Markazi Muslim League released an eight-minute propaganda video to whip up communal passion. The clip was filled with inflammatory slogans like “Pak ki Azadi, Kashmir ki Azadi” and eulogized militant figures such as Yasin Malik, Masrat Alam Bhat, and Syed Ali Shah Geelani. The footage glorified terrorists like Burhan Wani and Manan Wani, showcasing their funeral prayers as martyrs. Most dangerously, the video tried to draw parallels between Gaza and Kashmir, encouraging Kashmiri youth to rebel against the Indian state.

Security experts in India interpret the PoK rally as a strategic attempt to equate Hamas’ violence against Israel with Pakistan’s Islamist insurgency in Kashmir, both masked under the narrative of “resistance against occupation.” It’s a tactic meant to garner global sympathy while pushing extremist ideologies deeper into the Indian subcontinent.

A profound conspiracy

The Pahalgam terror attack, which shocked the nation with its deadly precision, was not an isolated act of violence. Instead, Indian intelligence has now revealed it to be a part of a larger, well-coordinated terror conspiracy orchestrated by multiple jihadist groups—some of which are banned in Pakistan but continue to function openly. The key players in this operation were the Jammu and Kashmir United Mujahideen (JKUM), Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), and Jamaat-ud-Dawa (JuD). All three participated in planning and executing this carefully constructed and massively planned assault.

A team of highly trained and skilled Pakistani terrorists is said to have carried out the attack, pointing towards extensive preparation and international terrorist involvement. According to Indian intelligence sources, the masterminds behind the operation were Abu Musa (also known as Musa Kashmiri), Saifullah Kasuri (also known as Saifullah Khalid), and Rizwan Hanif. These individuals played crucial roles in the planning and execution, coordinating efforts that culminated in the carnage witnessed in Pahalgam.

Abu Musa, operating under the alias Musa Kashmiri, had a past association with the notorious Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS). He was actively involved in planning attacks on foreign nationals in India, including plots to target tourists in Kolkata. His extremist leanings were further evident when he was caught in possession of radical Islamist literature, suggesting he was also inclined toward lone-wolf terrorism. Later, Musa shifted his allegiance to LeT and was sent to Jammu and Kashmir, where he focused his efforts on attacking security personnel and non-local civilians, escalating the insurgency.

Another major figure in this conspiracy is Saifullah Kasuri, also known as Saifullah Khalid, a senior commander of LeT and a close aide of Hafiz Muhammad Saeed, the founder of LeT. The U.S. Treasury Department has officially identified him for his role in terrorist operations. Saifullah was also part of the Punjabi JuD Coordination Committee, where he took charge of LeT’s activities in Peshawar. Moreover, his ties with Milli Muslim League (MML)—a political group accused of being a civilian front for LeT's jihadist activities—further expose the extent of his influence. Authorities have flagged his public statements as dangerous, capable of instigating communal violence.

The third key conspirator, Rizwan Hanif, is a senior member of JKUM and operates primarily out of Rawalakot in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). Intelligence sources believe he played a critical role in both planning and carrying out the Pahalgam attack, showing how terror outfits based in PoK continue to pose serious threats to India.

An international jihadi nexus

In a sharp and timely observation, Reuven Azar, the Israeli envoy to India, drew parallels between the Pahalgam attack and the infamous October 7, 2023, terror strike in Israel. Azar noted that “There are similarities between the Pahalgam attack and what happened on 7th October (2023) in Israel. Innocent tourists were enjoying their vacation in Pahalgam, while in Israel, people were celebrating at a music festival.” The similarity lies not just in the settings, but also in the method and motive—“The terrorists are collaborating at all levels and trying to be copycats of each other. I am sure the intelligence agencies are working together to defeat them.”

This alarming observation points to a growing pattern of global jihadist coordination. The Hamas attack on Israel resulted in thousands of deaths, hundreds of injuries, and hostages being taken, leading to the ongoing military response in Gaza. While these horrific events unfolded, Hamas maintained increased contact with Pakistan, especially after the October 2023 assault. Their representatives not only visited Pakistan but also toured a key Pakistani Army facility, reportedly inaugurated by Army Chief Asim Munir, and also visited the Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) headquarters in Bahawalpur—a facility situated near Rajasthan, making it strategically sensitive for India.

The deepening of Hamas-Pakistan ties was further illustrated when Qadoumi, the Hamas spokesman, was invited to address Pakistan’s Parliament in January 2024. His presence signified a bold endorsement of Hamas by Pakistani lawmakers. During that session, a Pakistani MP made a striking statement: “That plan is now buried under the rubble of Gaza,” referring to the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC). The lawmaker claimed IMEC was India’s strategy to challenge China’s Belt and Road Initiative, but hinted that it had collapsed due to the ongoing conflict in Gaza.

Hamas’ activities in Pakistan were not limited to Parliament. The group reportedly organized the “Al-Aqsa Million March” in Karachi, which was aimed at drumming up support for their cause. During this event, Qadoumi praised Pakistan, calling it “the elder brother” for welcoming 15 Palestinian prisoners, who were released as part of a peace deal with Israel.