New Delhi, August 25, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
India and Israel need to strengthen counterterrorism cooperation amid concerns over the growing presence of Hamas-linked networks in South Asia and their alleged convergence with Pakistan-based terrorist groups, experts said at a strategic discussion in New Delhi.
The observations came during a panel discussion organised by the Usanas Foundation following the release of its report, The Hamas-Pakistan Nexus: Examining Networks, Operations, and Strategic Convergence in South Asia. The discussion examined alleged operational, ideological and strategic linkages between Hamas and Pakistan-based terrorist organisations and their implications for security in South Asia and West Asia.
Israeli Ambassador to India Reuven Azar, delivering the keynote address, highlighted the report’s significance in understanding the convergence of terrorist networks across the two regions. He said the October 7 attacks had increased Hamas’ influence and appeal among terrorist circles and stressed the need for stronger counterterrorism cooperation between India and Israel.
The report said Hamas had expanded its presence in Pakistan and South Asia through public rallies, alliances with local militant groups and the use of Kashmir-Palestine solidarity narratives. It cited appearances by Hamas figures, including Naji Zaheer and Khaled Qaddoumi, at gatherings including in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, and alleged ideological links with groups such as Jaish-e-Mohammed and Lashkar-e-Taiba.
Lt Gen Raj Shukla described the alleged Hamas-Pakistan nexus as an emerging security threat. He said Pakistan had long used terrorism as an instrument of statecraft and pointed to the reported integration of drones and missile capabilities into terrorist tactics.
Shukla called for deeper India-Israel cooperation in intelligence sharing, surveillance and technology. He also advocated operationalising space and silent surveillance commands, developing a dedicated drone-missile force for stand-off precision strikes and sustained investment in space, cyber and persistent Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) capabilities. He also flagged the strategic implications of China’s BeiDou-3 satellite system for India’s preparedness.
Col Miri Eisin discussed Hamas’ multi-front operations, underground infrastructure and urban warfare capabilities. She also examined what she described as the group’s efforts to legitimise itself and its use of religious institutions and liberal-democratic rhetoric in English-language messaging.
Eisin warned that Hamas’ growing acceptance in countries such as Pakistan and Malaysia could influence perceptions and recruitment, while the possible transfer of operational expertise, particularly tunnel-warfare tactics, to South Asian terrorist groups remained a concern.
Michael Barak spoke about Hamas’ efforts to build relationships with global Islamist networks, including the Muslim Brotherhood, and its use of Kashmir as a unifying theme. He also highlighted Turkey’s alleged role in facilitating links between Hamas and Islamist groups in South Asia.
Barak warned of a broader transnational Sunni Islamist network involving multiple regions and said its potential expansion posed security challenges extending beyond West Asia into South Asia and Africa.
Usanas Foundation founder Abhinav Pandya emphasised the wider strategic scope for India-Israel cooperation, including stronger engagement across the Middle East and South Caucasus and closer coordination in strategic, military and intelligence domains.
The discussion concluded with calls for greater international cooperation, intelligence sharing and counterterrorism preparedness to address the increasingly transnational nature of terrorist networks and their evolving narratives and operational capabilities.
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