Hamas commander Naji Zaheer recently graced a Lashkar-e-Taiba event at Gujranwala in Punjab province of Pakistan.
According to an earlier report by the US-based Middle East Forum, Pakistan is emerging as a new operational base for the Palestinian militants. The Hamas leader's presence at such events show Pakistan's "apparent tolerance, if not endorsement, of Hamas's agenda," the report pointed out.
"This challenges Islamabad’s credentials as a reliable partner in the global fight against terrorism—and raises questions about its status as a US Major Non-NATO ally," it added.
Who is Naji Zaheer?
Naji Zaheer is the special representative of Hamas leader Khaled Mashaal to Pakistan. Mashaal is one of the Hamas leaders likely to succeed Yahya Sinwar as the militant group's political bureau head.
Zaheer had appeared in several conferences and rallies in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir over the last one-and-a-half year, especially after the Hamas attack on Israel on October 7, 2023. In these events, he shared stage with US-designated terror groups LeT and Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM).
A week after the October 7 attacks, Zaheer was spotted speaking at a pro-Palestine rally in Peshawar. The event was vitually attended by Mashal who thanked Pakistan for its support for the Palestinian cause.
On November 2, 2023, Zaheer virtually attended the Toofan-e-Aqsa Conference, which marked a 12-day protest in Karachi. Interestingly, the event also saw virtual participation of slain Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh, who declared, "This war is not just for Palestine; its is for the entire Ummah."
