After Op Sindoor, Pak spends $5 million on US lobbying to access Trump govt: Report

Fresh disclosures under the US Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA) reveal that Pakistan launched an intensive lobbying push in Washington following India’s Operation Sindoor, spending nearly $5 million (around Rs 45 crore) in a short span in 2025 to access the Trump administration and key US institutions.

According to FARA filings, Pakistan hired multiple US lobbying and law firms for what the documents describe as crisis management, military and diplomatic access, economic outreach, and media engagement at the highest levels of the US system.

A filing by Squire Patton Boggs shows that Pakistani representatives reached out to several US lawmakers during the height of India–Pakistan tensions linked to Operation Sindoor. The outreach appears aimed at urging the US to intervene amid the possibility of a conflict.

Pakistan also engaged Seiden Law LLP and Javelin Advisors. FARA disclosures note that Javelin Advisors’ principals include George Sorial and Keith Schiller, both of whom have past links to former US President Donald Trump.

The filings show that Pakistani diplomats and lobbyists contacted or met Members of the US Congress and their chiefs of staff, officials from the Pentagon, the State Department, and the White House system. The disclosures also list outreach to major media organisations, including Wall Street Journal and New York Times, as part of efforts to shape Pakistan’s narrative in US policy circles.

FARA-linked material and accompanying disclosures also document US outreach by Pakistan’s Army Chief Asim Munir, confirming his visit to Washington and meetings facilitated by lobbyists.

Documents describe the lobbying as “crisis diplomacy” triggered by India’s Operation Sindoor. They state that Pakistani diplomats and lobbyists contacted US officials nearly 60 times through emails, phone calls, text messages, and in-person meetings.

The focus areas listed in the filings include the India–Pakistan conflict and regional stability, Pakistan’s military and diplomatic access in Washington, economic cooperation including critical minerals and trade issues, and media engagement.

Apart from Seiden Law and Javelin Advisors, Sidley Law LLP disclosed work related to Pakistan–US economic engagement during the period of India–Pakistan tensions. Team Eagle Consulting LLC and Islamabad-linked policy entities also arranged meetings connected to Pakistan’s defence attach, the filings show.

Separate FARA disclosures indicate that India also engaged US lobbyists. The filings confirm that the Indian Embassy hired SHW Partners LLC for communication with the US government, particularly on trade-related discussions.

The FARA documents collectively outline how Operation Sindoor prompted a rapid and expensive lobbying blitz by Pakistan in Washington, even as both India and Pakistan activated their respective channels within the US system during the period of heightened tensions.

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