Iran supports Pakistan based terror groups: India launches Operation Sindoor

Iran’s involvement in global terrorism has long been a subject of intense scrutiny, especially concerning its relationships with militant groups in the Middle East and South Asia. While Pakistan’s support of various Islamic militant groups is well-documented, Iran’s ties to terrorism go beyond its borders, directly implicating it in destabilizing activities in both Israel and Pakistan. The dual role of Iran as both a state sponsor of terrorism and as a key player in proxy wars across the region continues to pose challenges to international peace and security.

Iran’s Support for Terrorism in Israel

Iran’s support for terrorism targeting Israel is perhaps most famously symbolized by its relationship with Hezbollah, the Lebanese Shiite militant group that has received substantial military, financial, and logistical support from Tehran. Hezbollah’s primary objective is the destruction of Israel, and it has been involved in numerous attacks on Israeli soil, including the 1992 bombing of the Israeli embassy in Argentina, and the 1994 AMIA bombing, which killed 85 people.

However, Iran’s involvement in anti-Israeli terrorism is not limited to Hezbollah. Tehran has also been a key backer of various Palestinian militant groups, including Hamas and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ). Both groups, which advocate for the destruction of Israel, have received financial aid, weapons, and training from Iran. Notably, during the 2021 Israeli-Palestinian conflict, it was revealed that Iran had been supplying Hamas with advanced rocket technology, some of which were used in strikes against Israel.

Iran’s Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) has been instrumental in facilitating these relationships, with the Quds Force, the unit responsible for Iranian foreign operations, overseeing the transfer of arms and resources to these groups. These activities contribute to the ongoing instability in the Middle East and serve as a constant threat to Israel’s national security.

Hamas and Iran’s Growing Presence in Pakistan

In recent weeks, a major development involving Hamas’s presence in Pakistan has raised alarms about the expanding reach of Iranian-backed terrorism in South Asia. In February 2025, a Hamas delegation attended a conference in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) alongside leaders from Pakistani jihadist groups like Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM). This marks the first public acknowledgment of Hamas establishing direct ties with Pakistan-based militants.

The event, held under the banner of “Kashmir Solidarity and Hamas Operation ‘Al Aqsa Flood’ Conference,” featured key figures such as Talha Saif, the brother of Jaish-e-Mohammed’s leader, and members of LeT. These groups are infamous for their attacks on Indian soil, particularly in Jammu and Kashmir. The presence of Hamas at this event, which coincided with Pakistan’s Kashmir Solidarity Day, signals a growing alliance between Hamas and Pakistani-based terror outfits

Iran’s ties to Hamas have been long-standing, and this event highlights Tehran’s continued efforts to forge alliances with various militant organizations to challenge Israel’s existence. While Hamas has traditionally operated out of Gaza and its leadership has lived in exile in countries like Qatar and Iran, the presence of Hamas in Pakistan suggests a broader regional strategy aimed at intensifying anti-Israeli and anti-Indian militancy. Reports from the gathering indicated the deepening collaboration between these groups, which would undoubtedly have repercussions for regional security.

Iran’s Role in Pakistan’s Terror Networks

Iran’s involvement in Pakistan-based terrorism has been less direct but no less consequential. Over the years, Iran has been accused of facilitating the movement of fighters and weapons through its territory, aiding groups like LeT and JeM. These groups have been responsible for several high-profile terrorist attacks in India, including the 2001 Indian Parliament attack and the 2008 Mumbai attacks.

Despite these accusations, Tehran has consistently denied any formal role in supporting these groups. However, the logistical support, financial aid, and shared ideological goals between Iran’s Quds Force and Pakistan-based jihadist groups are well-documented. In addition to direct support for these groups, Iran also provides a haven for certain key operatives and militants, further complicating efforts to combat terrorism in the region.

In the past few weeks, the announcement of a potential Hamas office in Pakistan—supported by Pakistan’s Jamaat-e-Islami party—has raised concerns about the growing network of Iran-backed extremist factions in the region. During a rally in Islamabad, Jamaat-e-Islami’s leader Hafiz Naeem-ur-Rehman called on the Pakistani government to formally recognize and support the Palestinian cause, including facilitating the presence of Hamas within Pakistan’s borders

The Indian Response and Operation Sindoor

On April 22, 2025, the killing of 26 Hindu civilians in Kashmir, claimed by a Pakistan-based terror group, intensified the already fraught India-Pakistan relationship. The attack was attributed to the Resistance Front, a group closely linked to the Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba. In response to this attack, India launched Operation Sindoor on May 6, 2025, a large-scale military operation involving missile strikes on terrorist infrastructure across Pakistan and Pakistan-administered Kashmir. The strikes were specifically aimed at dismantling terrorist cells affiliated with groups like LeT and JeM, further intensifying cross-border tensions.

The involvement of Iran in the broader context of Pakistani-sponsored terrorism adds a layer of complexity to the ongoing crisis. With Iran’s strong backing of groups like Hezbollah, Hamas, and other terror organizations, Tehran’s regional ambitions are becoming increasingly entangled with Pakistan’s own goals in Kashmir and beyond. India’s military actions against Pakistan-backed terror networks are unlikely to ease tensions, particularly as Iran’s influence grows in Pakistan and its alliances with terrorist groups solidify.

The connections between Iran, Pakistan, and terrorism are multifaceted and deeply entrenched. Iran’s support for groups targeting Israel, including Hezbollah, Hamas, and Palestinian Islamic Jihad, has been a cornerstone of its foreign policy for decades. Meanwhile, Pakistan’s support for militant groups in Kashmir and its growing alliance with Hamas and other radical factions only exacerbate regional instability.

As the international community grapples with the realities of state-sponsored terrorism, the situation in South Asia and the Middle East remains perilous. Until Iran and Pakistan are held accountable for their roles in fostering extremism, the global struggle against terrorism will continue to be a long and challenging one.