Adv Sajid Yousuf Shah
In the shadowy corridors of international politics, a recent revelation sent shockwaves rippling through the diplomatic world. It was a revelation that lifted the veil on Pakistan’s clandestine involvement in training Hamas terrorists. The revelation had set tongues wagging and made observers sit up, suddenly realizing the complexity of Pakistan’s role in the volatile Middle East.
At the heart of this revelation lay an ideological connection that ran deep, like a hidden river beneath the surface. Hamas had its roots intertwined with Pakistan, and this connection was more than a mere coincidence. The origins of Hamas could be traced back to the Muslim Brotherhood, an ideological fountainhead from which Hamas had sprung. In Pakistan, the Jamaat Islami, the mother organization of jihadism, shared a similar ideological orientation. It was as if these two entities were two sides of the same coin, reflecting the common ground upon which they stood.
According to Times of Israel , But there is more to the support that Pakistan gives Hamas than just the ideological connection. Hamas makes a great fit for Pakistan’s ambitions to exercise influence beyond its borders and beyond the constraints imposed on it by geography, economy and capacity. Since these constraints prevent Pakistan from doing things that normal states do to expand their influence, Islamabad (or more appropriately Rawalpindi, the city where all strategic policy is framed and implemented) prefers to use asymmetric methods to expand its footprint without leaving behind its fingerprints. In the heart of Pakistan, a religious and political leader, Maulana Fazlur Rehman, stood before a gathering of journalists and supporters in Peshawar. His voice resonated with fervour as he addressed the pressing issue of the deadly attack on Israel by Hamas.
The room buzzed with anticipation as Maulana Fazlur Rehman began his speech. His impassioned words carried weight, and the media eagerly recorded his every utterance. He proclaimed the attack on Israel as a “historic success,” a bold assertion that sent ripples through the region and beyond.
Maulana Fazlur Rehman, the chief of Jamiat Ulema-e Islam-Fazl (JUI-F), did not stop at mere words. He vowed, with unwavering determination, to stand by the people of Palestine in their struggle for justice and freedom. His commitment was not just a statement; it was a promise etched in the hearts of those who had gathered to listen.
As the leader continued to speak, his resonant voice carried a message to the world. He declared that the attack on Israel was unequivocal evidence that the Palestine issue was far from dead. It was a call to action, a reminder that the world could not turn a blind eye to the ongoing plight of the Palestinian people.
Maulana Fazlur Rehman’s passionate speech ignited conversations, debates, and discussions across the globe. It served as a reminder that the pursuit of justice and the struggle for the rights of oppressed communities would persist, even in the face of seemingly insurmountable odds.
In the days that followed, his words reverberated far and wide, leaving an indelible mark on the international political landscape. The “historic success” he had proclaimed was not just an attack on Israel; it was a rallying cry for the Palestinian cause, echoing across borders, transcending differences, and uniting those who believed in a world where justice knew no boundaries.
Hamas is a terror group that carried out the worst terrorist attack in Israel in decades on Saturday, killing 1000+ people and taking captive dozens of soldiers and civilians. The group, which is currently led by Ismail Haniyeh, is also one of the two major political organization in the Palestinian territories. Its main rival is Fatah, which is seen as more secular and moderate and controls the Palestinian Authority in the West Bank.
Founded in 1987 during an uprising against Israel’s presence in Gaza and the West Bank, Hamas was originally a branch of the Muslim Brotherhood, an Islamist political and social movement originating in Egypt. In recent years, Hamas has distanced itself from the Brotherhood.
Hamas is considered a terrorist organization by the United States and several other countries as Hamas has perpetrated terrorist attacks against Israel since the early 1990s.
Hamas was established in 1987 during the first intifada, and the group took control of Gaza in 2007. On Oct. 8, 1997, about 10 years after the terror group was organized, it was named as a foreign terrorist organization by the U.S. State Department. Hezbollah, a terror group that emerged out of Lebanon, has also been designated a terrorist group by the U.S. Many other countries that includes Australia, Japan , UK has as well designated Hamas as terrorist organisation.
At a time when Pakistan’s stability increasingly depends on the outcome of an ever-worsening economic crisis. Amid skyrocketing inflation, political conflict between former Prime Ministers Shehbaz Sharif and Imran Khan, and surging terrorism, the country is facing the risk of a default due to its massive external debt obligations, this was a time for this terror country to stood up and condemn Hamas but they are unable to do so . Because Pakistan believes in Terrorism and they always support terror . India’s position on the Israel-Hamas war is interesting as India stands with Israel and unequivocally condemns terrorism but India also advocates direct negotiations towards “establishing a sovereign, independent and viable state of Palestine.
Advocate Sajid Yousuf Shah is is a Political Commentator, Policy and Conflict observer, TV debater and Columnist based in Srinagar J&K, India.