ISLAMABAD: Recent disclosures under the United States Foreign AgentsRegistration Act have unveiled extensive lobbying campaigns by bothPakistan and India in Washington during the May 2025 military confrontationknown as Operation Sindoor. These efforts, involving millions of dollarsand numerous high-level contacts, aimed to influence US policy, medianarratives, and administration officials as tensions escalated following aterrorist attack in Pahalgam. The filings reveal a frantic push to shapeoutcomes in a crisis that brought nuclear-armed neighbours to the brink.
According to documents accessed from the US Department of Justice, Pakistaninitiated an aggressive lobbying blitz shortly after India’s precisionstrikes on terrorist infrastructure. Pakistani diplomats and agents soughtover 60 interactions with senior US officials, lawmakers, Pentagonrepresentatives, and influential journalists. The outreach focused onregional security, Kashmir issues, and requests for American interventionto halt further escalation. Filings indicate contracts worth approximatelyfive million dollars annually with multiple firms to secure access to theTrump administration.
Experts describe Pakistan’s campaign as a standard yet hurried foreigninfluence operation, common in Washington where foreign entities spendheavily for favourable coverage and policy shifts. Disclosures specificallymention outreach to major outlets like The New York Times and The WallStreet Journal, aimed at tilting media narratives during the crisis. Oneanalyst noted that such activities undoubtedly sought to sway USperceptions in Pakistan’s favour amid heightened hostilities.
On the Indian side, FARA filings show the embassy engaged lobbying firmsconnected to the Trump circle, facilitating contacts on the day theceasefire was announced, May 10, 2025. These included discussions withWhite House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles, US Trade Representative JamiesonGreer, and National Security Council official Ricky Gill. The interactionsreportedly addressed media coverage of the conflict and ongoing tradenegotiations, raising questions about the extent of backchannel diplomacy.
International affairs analyst Narupama Subramaniam highlighted thepeculiarity of India’s lobbying arrangements, given New Delhi’s publicstance denying any third-party role in the ceasefire. She pointed out thatcontacts extended beyond national security figures to include CommerceDepartment representatives, sparking speculation about discussions tied toPresident Trump’s repeated claims of using trade warnings to broker peace.Trump has asserted that threats of trade restrictions compelled bothnations to de-escalate.
Subramaniam further observed that the scale of lobbying undermines previousportrayals of strong personal ties between leaders like Modi and Trump. Sheargued that reliance on intermediaries reflects limitations in India’sforeign policy influence under the current US administration, where directaccess appears reduced compared to past presidencies. This shift, she said,exposes vulnerabilities in bilateral relations previously touted as robust.
Another analyst, Vinod Sharma, noted contradictions in India’s officialnarrative insisting on bilateral resolution without external mediation.Emerging evidence from filings suggests US involvement, aligning withTrump’s assertions and Pakistani acknowledgements of American facilitation.Sharma emphasised that while lobbying is routine for nations seeking toconvey positions, the intensity during the crisis indicates significantbehind-the-scenes pressure.
The ceasefire, announced after four days of intense exchanges, has beencredited differently by stakeholders. India maintains it resulted frommilitary superiority forcing Pakistan’s hand, while Trump has claimedpersonal intervention via trade leverage prevented wider catastrophe.Filings now provide concrete data on how both sides navigated Washington toprotect interests amid uncertainty.
Read Top Stories
These revelations underscore the role of professional lobbying in moderndiplomacy, particularly for South Asian rivals in engaging a superpower.Expenditures and contacts detailed in the documents illustrate howinfluence operations complement traditional channels during crises. Asanalyses continue, the episodes highlight evolving dynamics in USengagements with the region.
The 2025 confrontation, triggered by the Pahalgam attack claiming numerouslives, marked one of the most serious escalations in recent decades.Precision strikes and counter-responses raised global alarms over nuclearrisks. The subsequent diplomatic manoeuvres in Washington reveal themultifaceted efforts to manage fallout and secure advantageous positions.
Source:https://www.dawn.com/news/1965551
Tags: Pakistan, India, United States, Operation Sindoor, Donald Trump,FARA, Lobbying
ogimageimage-name
