Pakistan's $50,000-a-Month Lobbying Effort in US Aimed at Influencing Top Politicians During Op Sindoor
Lobbying firms were also in contact with reporters from US newspapers like the New York Times and the Wall Street Journal both during and after Op Sindoor. | World News
Pakistan's lobbying efforts in the US have come under scrutiny, with reports revealing that the country hired two high-profile firms to influence top politicians during and after Operation Sindoor. According to disclosures filed with the US Department of Justice, Squire Patton Boggs and Javelin Advisors, a firm founded by former Trump associates, were hired for a monthly fee of $50,000 to aid Islamabad's outreach to US politicians.
Javelin Advisors, which was hired in April, reached out to influential lawmakers, including Senate Majority Leader John Thune and House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, to lobby for Islamabad. The firm also arranged a call between Pakistani Ambassador Rizwan Saeed Sheikh and House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Brian Mast to discuss tensions between India and Pakistan.
Squire Patton Boggs, another of Pakistan's lobbying firms, led outreach to over a dozen members of the House of Representatives, discussing US-Pakistan bilateral relations. The firm also disseminated a note summarizing Pakistan's position on Operation Sindoor, which accused India of supporting terrorism and welcomed US President Donald Trump's willingness to help settle the Kashmir dispute.
This is not the first time Pakistan has been accused of outspending India on lobbying efforts in the US. According to reports, Pakistan was spending roughly $600,000 per month on six firms at the time, while India was spending $200,000 per month on two firms. The revelations have raised questions about the influence of foreign governments on US politics and the effectiveness of lobbying efforts in shaping policy decisions.
