In a development that highlights potential coordination between global terrorist groups, a senior commander of Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) has publicly acknowledged links with Hamas, raising concerns over an emerging alliance between the two US-designated terror organisations.
Faisal Nadeem, a commander of the Pakistan Markazi Muslim League (PMML)—widely seen as the political front of Lashkar—revealed in a recent video obtained by NDTV that he met senior Hamas leaders in Doha, Qatar, in 2024. Nadeem, who operates in Sindh province, said he was accompanied by Saifullah Kasuri, the alleged mastermind of the Pahalgam terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir.
According to Nadeem, the two met Hamas leader Khaled Mashal, a disclosure Indian intelligence officials say provides direct evidence of coordination between terror networks in South Asia and the Middle East. Analysts suggest the admission points to an emerging partnership for sharing logistics, propaganda, and operational expertise.
This follows an NDTV report from January 7 detailing a meeting between senior Hamas commander Naji Zaheer and Lashkar commander Rashid Ali Sandhu in Gujranwala, Pakistan. The gathering, held during a PMML event, was public and widely circulated in undated video footage, showing the two leaders sharing the stage. Officials say the public nature of the event indicates growing confidence and deepening ties between the groups. Zaheer is reported to have visited Pakistan nearly 15 times since October 2023.
Experts say Faisal Nadeem’s admission further confirms Lashkar’s expanding relationship with Hamas. Both groups are designated terrorist organisations by the United States and several other countries, and any collaboration could have serious regional and international security consequences. Indian intelligence agencies are closely monitoring the situation for potential legal actions at home and through international bodies such as the Financial Action Task Force (FATF).
Officials also note that the meetings suggest a strategic effort to build a broader ideological and operational alliance, potentially involving training, fundraising, and propaganda cooperation. Analysts warn that the emerging trail of videos and statements points to a coordinated front between Hamas and Lashkar-e-Taiba, marking a concerning evolution in the global terror network landscape and raising fears of future cross-regional collaboration among extremist groups.(Agencies)
