 "Why is Hamas being linked to Pahalgam terror attack?")
The Pahalgam terror attack in south Kashmir has shaken up many people.
The attack, which occurred on Tuesday afternoon on tourists in Pahalgam’s Baisaran Valley, left at least 26 dead and dozens injured.
The responsibility for the attack was taken by The Resistance Force (TRF) – a branch of the Lashkar-e-Taiba terror group which is based in Pakistan.
India has responded strongly to the attack with several counter-measures including cancelling the Saarc Visa Exemption Scheme (SVES) for Pakistani citizens, ordering all Pakistani nationals to leave the country, suspending the Indus Waters treaty, downgrading diplomatic ties and expelling military attaches.
But why are people comparing the Kashmir attack to the Hamas attack on October 7, 2023 on Israel? And why are they linking Hamas to Pakistan?
Let’s take a closer look:
What happened?
Former US Pentagon official Michael Rubin made the comparison on Thursday.
As per The Times of India, Rubin on Thursday drew parallels with the attack on Kashmir to Hamas’ attack on Israel.
“That is exactly what went on when the October 7th, 2023 Hamas attack on Israel. It was directed specifically against Jews, and not only against Jews, but among the most liberal Jews who were most prone to wanting peace and normalcy with the Gaza Strip,” Rubin said.
Rubin is a senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, where he specialises in Iran, Turkey, and West Asia.
“Targeting a vacation resort, middle-class Hindus, it is evident that the Pakistanis are trying the same tactic now. It should be no more successful for Pakistan than it was for Hamas,” Rubin added.
Rubin also called for New Delhi to carry out an Israel-style retaliation against Islamabad and take out the ISI leadership.
“And frankly, it’s now the duty of India to do to Pakistan and to Pakistan’s ISI what Israel did to Hamas. It’s time to wipe out the leadership of the ISI, to treat them as a designated terror group, and demand that every country that is an ally of India, every country that is an ally of the world’s largest democracy, do the same.”
Survivors reported that the attackers asked victims about their religion before shooting, specifically targeting men. Indian authorities have launched search operations to nab the terrorists.
Rubin isn’t alone.
Ex-Jammu and Kashmir Police chief Shesh Paul Vaid also made a similar claim.
Calling Pahalgam a Pulwama 2.0 moment, Vaid said India must hit back akin to how Israel has responded to Hamas.
“This was a Hamas-style attack on 7 October on Israel. It’s not a coincidence that Asim Munir (Pakistan Army chief) uttered illogical words two days back, and then such an attack takes place where the religion of the tourists was asked,” Vaid said Our response should be appropriate, something like how Israel responded.”
Hamas-Pakistan connection
Hamas and Pakistan seem to be growing closer.
As per The Times of India, intelligence sources have said senor Hamas leaders have made multiple trips to Pakistan in the past year.
This includes a recent visit by a Hamas team to the Jaish-e-Muhammed’s (JeM) headquarters in Bahawalpur and a Pakistani Army facility that hosts their combat simulation centre inaugurated by Army chief Asim Munir.
As per India Today, top commanders of Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) and Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) in February attended an event in Pakistan occupied Kashmir along with senior Hamas representatives.
The event occurred on February 5 – which Pakistan observes as ‘Kashmir Solidarity Day’ – at Shaheed Sabir Stadium in Rawalakote.
Dr Khalid Al-Qadoumi, Hamas’s representative in Iran, addressed the event entitled “Kashmir Solidarity and Hamas Operation ‘Al Aqsa Flood’ Conference.”
Al-Qadoumi also had a private meeting with Maulana Fazlur Rehman, chief of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (F).
Several other Palestinian leaders with links to Hamas were also in attendance.
Hamas officials last year also visited Pakistan soon after the death of Ismail Haniyeh.
“Hamas leaders also held an ‘al-Aqsa million march’ in Karachi last year. Qaddoumi referred to Pakistan as an ‘elder brother’ in gratitude to Islamabad for agreeing to host 15 Palestinian prisoners freed under a ceasefire deal reached between Israel and Hamas,” a source told The Times of India.
Israeli officials have urged India to ban Hamas and declare it a terror group.
India’s stance on Hamas
India, unlike other nations, has not yet designated Hamas a terror group.
New Delhi has strongly condemned the October 7, 2023, attack on Israel.
India has also called for restraint and de-escalation and emphasised peaceful resolution of the conflict through dialogue and diplomacy.
India has also called for the remaining hostages to be released.
When it comes to Palestine, new Delhi has consistently supported a two-state solution.
India has called for the establishment of a sovereign, independent and viable state of Palestine within secure and recognised borders, living side by side in peace with Israel.
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